Thursday’s news brings the latest Premier League fixture updates for January, in addition to the latest comments regarding Federico Chiesa‘s ongoing omission from Italy’s squad.
Liverpool fixtures: 2 changes in January
If you love 8pm kickoffs on a Saturday, you’ll like this update, and if you don’t, well, perhaps look away now.
The Premier League have released the latest fixture dates and times for January, with three matches now locked in for Liverpool, and they are as follows:
• Burnley (H) – Saturday, Jan 17 – 3pm
• Bournemouth (A) – Saturday, Jan 24 – 5.30pm (Sky Sports)
• Newcastle (H) – Saturday, Jan 31 – 8pm (TNT Sports)
Between the visit of Burnley and the trip to Bournemouth, Liverpool travel to Marseille in the Champions League (Jan 21), with Qarabag the visitors between Bournemouth and Newcastle.
In total, Arne Slot‘s side now have four 8pm kickoffs in the first month of 2026, and fortunately – or unfortunately going off recent form – only Burnley‘s visit will not be shown live on UK TV.
It is also worth keeping in mind that Mohamed Salah could miss that match if Egypt make it to the AFCON final, though he should be available from Bournemouth onwards.
Just when you thought you didn’t have to think of internationals again until March!
Federico Chiesa’s Italy absence is ‘his problem’
• Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso is growing frustrated of the constant Chiesa questions, saying his absence from the squad is the player’s “problem” as he calls “before every break” – it’s all very strange as surely he needs and wants to play? (Sky Italia)
• Salah has been snubbed yet again for the African Player of the Year award despite his remarkable 2024/25 season – can you believe he last won the award in 2018, is anyone as disrespected?
• Liverpool are expected to get a clear run at Marc Guehi in the January window as others prefer his availability as a free agent in the summer – surely the club make the move happen
• Kostas Tsimikas is expected to return to Liverpool after his season-long loan with reports claiming Roma are unimpressed after “too many mistakes” – if Robbo leaves, he could get another chance
• Some good news for you, Alisson is expected to start against Forest on Saturday after sitting out the last seven weeks with a hamstring injury – it’ll be good to have him back
Jeremie Frimpong – what is the plan?
With Jeremie Frimpong yet to show his true potential at Anfield, Joe Baker takes a look at what the plan could be for the Dutchman:
“If you’d said when Frimpong arrived that, come mid-November, he’d have no goals or assists bar the Community Shield, you’d probably have been laughed at.
“Undoubtedly the jury is still out on his signing. For different reasons, it remains unclear what he was brought in for, or what the plan for the future is.
“It may be that Frimpong can eventually nail down a specific job. Or he could just end up being a jack of many trades but a master of none.
“If it is to be the latter, then Liverpool will still have a fantastic player on their hands – with room for further development – who can suit up and perform in different areas.
“And that’s hardly a bad option to have, is it?”
READ: Jeremie Frimpong’s puzzling start: What is the plan for Liverpool’s not-quite right-back?
Jurgen Klopp’s ex-Liverpool coach ‘on verge’ of return
• Former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos “is on the verge” of returning to the UK after holding talks with Championship strugglers Swansea – it would be a big move with plenty of attention (The Mail)
• Take a breath before you read this one! TNT Sports have lost their Champions League coverage in the UK with Paramount+ expected to takeover from 2027 – do they think we like collecting subscriptions as a hobby? (The Times)
• Conor Bradley‘s Northern Ireland could face Wales for a place in the World Cup, but they must first beat Italy in the play-off semi-final – it will be interesting to see if Chiesa is involved
• Newport County have announced former Leicester player Christian Fuchs as their new manager – let’s hope they haven’t Fuch’d it up…I’ll walk myself out
Liverpool FC: On this day
On this day in 1999, Liverpool played their first official game at Sunderland‘s new Stadium of Light, a trip which they marked with a 2-0 win.
Michael Owen and Patrik Berger scored the goals for Gerard Houllier’s side in front of 42,015 fans on a night that saw the former subject to a chorus of boos after England’s defeat to Scotland.
His goal, however, condemned Sunderland to their first home defeat for a year – not a bad way to respond!
Liverpool have since made 14 further trips to the Stadium of Light, winning eight and drawing three. Their next trip will be their first since 2017 and is scheduled for February 11.
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