Klopp must find solutions from within – as Bajcetic makes case for Chelsea start

The Liverpool rumour mill has gone into overdrive this week.

Social media has been awash with talk of a Qatari consortium being on the brink of buying the club.

However, anyone expecting an imminent takeover followed by a major spending spree in the transfer market is set to be disappointed.

The reality is that two months after Fenway Sports Group embarked on a global search for new investment, little has changed.

Yes, the owners remain open to offers but senior FSG sources are adamant that there's no truth in speculation that they are close to agreeing a deal with the Qataris or anyone else that would bring the curtain down on a 12-year reign.

FSG, which paid around £300million for an asset that is now valued at more than £3billion ($3.7bn), is increasingly likely to sell a small portion of the club rather than sanction a full takeover. And even then, nothing is imminent on that front.

FSG increasingly likely to sell minority stake in Liverpool

US banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are continuing to sound out interest. FSG is in no rush. This was always going to be a drawn-out process.

So what about the rest of this season? In the absence of significant funds to add further reinforcements during the January window following the £37million signing of attacker Cody Gakpo, Liverpool's campaign appears to rest on Jurgen Klopp's ability to get more out of the talent already at his disposal.

And a spirited FA Cup third-round replay victory over Wolves was a welcome step in the right direction.

After the abject misery of the wretched weekend defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool have a much-needed injection of positivity. They will have the chance to make amends when they return to the Amex Stadium in the fourth round at the end of the month.

Making eight changes at Molineux was a gamble by Klopp but it paid off as those on the fringes who were handed opportunities stepped up and delivered.

How Harvey Elliott, who was Liverpool's match-winner with a stunning 25-yard strike, relished being employed further forward. He's taken some unfair criticism in recent months from those who might be forgetting he's only 19.

“Harvey saw something that not a lot of people in the stadium would have seen. If I was a goalie, I wouldn't have expected a shot. It was a top goal,” said Klopp. “I said to the boys after the game that's how it feels when you play well and win. We can't remember it really when that was last the case.”

On the other flank, 20-year-old Fabio Carvalho played like someone with a point to prove after being an unused substitute for five successive matches.

With Gakpo operating between them, Liverpool pressed so much better as an attacking unit. There was more energy as they hassled their opponents to force mistakes. They also showed more intelligence, picking their moments to close down so they didn't leave team-mates exposed.

However, it was in midfield where there was the biggest transformation. There weren't big gaps for Wolves to exploit. Liverpool looked so much more compact. There was cohesion, control, protection and aggression.

Stefan Bajcetic, making his ninth senior appearance for the club, was outstanding in the holding role. Fabinho's slump in form means it has been a problem area for Liverpool all season but they looked so much better with the 18-year-old acting as the shield. Time and time again, he sensed danger and dealt with it.

The Spain youth international stayed calm and composed under pressure — how the travelling Kop loved the drop of the shoulder that left Joao Moutinho scrambling around on the turf.

Bajcetic, who cost £220,000 from Celta Vigo three years ago, made three tackles and two interceptions, winning 63 per cent of his duels (five out of eight).

“Good player, very smart in his movements, he did really well,” said Klopp. “He wins challenges and the last few steps before he has to block the ball, that's really good. Having Thiago next to him is pretty helpful as Thiago talks a lot.”

Signed as a centre-back, he was converted into a defensive midfielder following discussions with academy director Alex Inglethorpe and under-18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, who believed a step forward would best suit his skill set. It was a smart decision.

Since being included by Klopp on the pre-season tour of Asia, Bajcetic hasn't looked back. He ran himself into the ground at Molineux and had to be taken off with 15 minutes to go with cramp.

Starting Bajcetic against Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday would be a big show of faith but it wouldn't faze him.

Naby Keita's claims to start that contest are even more compelling after the dynamism he provided. He made six tackles (more than anyone else on the pitch), won 57 per cent of his duels (eight out of 14) and completed 83 per cent of his passes.

When the Guinea international performs like this you question why he's out of contract in five months. Then you remember that this was his first start since May and how much time he spends watching from afar.

Thiago certainly benefited from having the legs of Bajcetic and Keita around him. The Spain international oozed class with an 85 per cent passing accuracy. He won 70 per cent of his duels (seven out of 10), and made two tackles and three interceptions.

Defensively, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate excelled, and vice-captain James Milner marked his return to action with a typically combative display at right-back after Trent Alexander-Arnold was rested. Then there was another lively late cameo from young winger Ben Doak. The manager had promised a show of fight and so it proved in all departments.

Liverpool hadn't kept a clean sheet on their travels domestically since the 0-0 draw at Everton in September.

Darwin Nunez should be back available for Saturday and this was a night when others also forced their way into contention for that crucial Premier League contest. “We are not in a casting show, it's about who shows up in training. I'm not blind. The door is open for everybody,” said Klopp.

The manager retains the unwavering support of the FSG hierarchy. Concern in Boston over a miserable run of league results that has left Liverpool 10 points off the top four is offset by an understanding of the impact of so many injury setbacks.

There will be no swift change of ownership. No massive late January war chest bankrolled by Middle Eastern riches. Klopp has to trigger a response from within to save Liverpool's season and this was a decent start.

(Top photo: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)