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For the third successive occasion, the Transfer Window Winners shield will be not be heading to Anfield.

Not that there was any surprise at the deadline ticking over at 11pm on Monday night with the Reds having not added to their squad for the remaining four months of the season.

Arne Slot has long declared himself happy with his current charges, with the depth of his options having become apparent ahead of the Premier League win at Bournemouth last Saturday, when neither Joe Gomez nor Federico Chiesa were part of the 20-man squad despite having no injury concerns, with Tyler Morton, Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Jayden Danns and Amara Nallo - who all featured three days earlier in the narrow Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven - also not involved.



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That Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a suspected thigh problem 20 minutes before the end underlined having a fully-fit squad is a rarity at any club, although Liverpool are hopeful the right-back won't be sidelined for an extended period.

And it increased the calls for a late, opportunistic move ahead of the deadline from Liverpool to provide an injection of fresh legs and quality from those who contend the Reds should be reinforcing from a position of strength.

They have also long pointed to the failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi during the summer window when the Spain Euro 2024-winning midfielder U-turned on his proposed £51million move from Real Sociedad.

For some, that was evidence that Slot himself, despite his recent declarations to the contrary, wants at the very least further options in the engine room.

That, though, was before the remarkable and, as Slot admitted, unexpected manner in which Ryan Gravenberch has taken to playing one of the two defensive midfield roles, his influence such that the only Premier League or Champions League game he hasn't started thus far this season was the dead rubber in Holland last midweek.

Indeed, that Liverpool are six points clear at the Premier League summit with a game in hand, into the last 16 of the Champions League and still in contention for the League Cup and FA Cup suggests they have been more than capable of challenging on several fronts despite suffering several injury setbacks, including having their number-one goalkeeper, a first-choice centre-back and preferred number nine out for significant parts of the campaign.

Plus there are inherent difficulties in improving such a squad mid-season even if, as shown with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz in recent years, the Reds have proven themselves dabhands at such a task.

Liverpool, of course, have good reason to keep their powder dry regards transfer business given the long-term question marks over so many areas of the squad?

The oft-cited cliche that next summer could be a big one may be a necessity with Slot having had a season to assess his players and now, with the help of sporting director Richard Hughes and the recruitment team, able to mould his options accordingly.

While any goalkeeping departures would appear to be covered by the incoming £30m arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, there is likely to be strengthening of the left-back area - Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez is a player of interest - while a new right-back will be required should Trent Alexander-Arnold not agree a new contract and leave on a free during the summer.

The same goes for the centre-back area with Virgil van Dijk's future similarly unresolved, although in any case the position could become a priority if Joe Gomez has his head turned by prospective suitors.

And up front, Mohamed Salah has still to agree a new deal, Darwin Nunez is expected to attract interest from Saudi Arabia and beyond come the end of the season and there continues to be speculation surrounding Federico Chiesa after a difficult debut campaign following his arrival from Juventus.

The January dealings for Liverpool have been outgoing.

Middlesbrough wanted to sign Tyler Morton but were nowhere near Liverpool's valuation of a player who will now struggle for minutes over the remainder of the campaign.

Is it a gamble for Liverpool to not make a new signing

And if the Premier League trophy is lifted aloft at Anfield in late May, not even the most transfer-centric of supporters will mind the Reds not even challenging to win the latest window.