St Louis Cardinals trounced the Reds 13-4 in Cincinnati in a result which, combined with the Cubs losing, leaves them top of the National League Central.

Virgil Van Dijk has dismissed talk of winning the Ballon d’Or and insists he is fully focused on attempting to shackle “out of this world” Lionel Messi in the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp is closing in on an historic season for Liverpool, as he again steered his side into the semi-finals of the Champions League. Only this time he returns to Premier League action this weekend top of the table and in a position to make a mockery of the fantastical claims surrounding Pep Guardiola brilliant Manchester City side.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new-look Manchester United needed a calibration to measure how far they have come since Jose Mourinho

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists it is “mad” to suggest accepting a Champions League exit to help their domestic title push would be a preferred option.

Liverpool bowed out of the FA Cup on an evening when Jurgen Klopp, via his 21st century boys, signalled that this season it is one competition too many.

Quotes to remember from the year in football...

One of the earliest and most hard-earned lessons I learned in the playground as a young football neophyte was that there was no team called Manchester.

PAOK Salonika 0 Chelsea 1

Brazil boast more recent Champions League experience than even the leading European nations at this summer’s World Cup.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has admitted he may have to adapt his laid-back style to suit the level of the occasion ahead of the Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Ronan Curtis scored a first half hat-trick as Derry City, record 10-time winners of the competition, beat First Division Shelbourne 7-3 in a thrilling goal-fest last eight tie at the Brandywell to book their place in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes only the brave prosper against Manchester City — which is why he has every faith in his players.

As Munster’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus saw at first hand how to exploit opposition weakness under the high ball and now he believes that is the area he must improve quickest as he takes control of South Africa.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane believes his season is back on track after a Champions League hat-trick.

Porto 0 Liverpool 5

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool can compete with Europe’s best even if no-one is giving his side much of a chance in the Champions League.

The January transfer window is often a let-down. 

Premier League giants Liverpool are rolling out the red carpet for the Corkman whose catchy team chant has gone viral.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits it was “not nice” shelling out £75m (€84m) for Virgil van Dijk but says he had little option in current market conditions.

A scintillating display of football from Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ saw Jurgen Klopp’s side blaze their way into the Champions League knockout phase with a 7-0 victory over Spartak Moscow.

Sadio Mane is confident Liverpool will continue to cause problems for defenders in the latter stages of the Champions League — although first they have to get into the knockout stages.

Leinster 23 Munster 17: To listen to Rassie Erasmus on Saturday evening in the aftermath of a fourth Aviva Stadium defeat in 12 months, you might have thought it was Leinster rather than Munster with plenty to put right heading into next week’s Champions Cup pool stages.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called on Sky to seriously consider the implications of scheduling a match on Christmas Eve which he believes fans will have no appetite for.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp arrived in Russia looking forward to his first visit to Moscow - but his first evening in the capital left him agitated and frustrated.

Rassie Erasmus has endorsed potential Munster successor Dave Wessels as “one of the good fits” to replace him as director of rugby.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was not surprised Sadio Mane’s three-match ban was upheld but felt the club had a duty to appeal the suspension.

MAN CITY 5 -LIVERPOOL 0: Jurgen Klopp claims neither Manchester City nor Liverpool should read too much into the 5-0 battering his side took at the Etihad Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp insists the transfer saga surrounding Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho has not damaged their relationship and the Barcelona target will be welcomed back with open arms once he is over injury and illness.

Rassie Erasmus is definitely staying on as Munster director of rugby having finally ended the speculation he was about to leave the province just a season into his three-year contract.

Liverpool 3 Arsenal 1: For a team so unpredictable, Liverpool have been quite easy to read this season. Perform on the big days, flop on some of the notionally less demanding assignments.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is not a clown who is laughing off his team’s problems and ignoring the issues which need addressing.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side won’t underestimate Sunderland after suffering a reality check against Southampton.

Out-of-favour striker Christian Benteke says he would never have joined Liverpool if he felt he was not going to be a “priority”.