It's been a challenging period for Liverpool recently. Their hold on the Premier League title has weakened rapidly - particularly with Arsenal stacking up victories and clean sheets at a relentless pace.

Getting dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace only deepened the frustration. Pinpointing exactly why things have gone off course for Liverpool is no simple task. But with summer arrivals failing to impress, established veterans suddenly looking shaky and the squad's once-firm confidence crumbling, plenty of observers are offering explanations.

Last weekend brought some domestic comfort for Liverpool, as they earned a crucial win against Aston Villa - their first league triumph since mid-September. The victory pushed them back up to third in the standings and success against title challengers Manchester City on Sunday could completely change the atmosphere on the red side of Merseyside. With that in mind, here are the latest updates from around Anfield.