Liverpool loanee Marko Grujic has no immediate plans to return to Anfield as he is enjoying life at Hertha Berlin. Grujic joined Liverpool in 2016 but has only made a handful of appearances for the Merseyside club after being sent out on loan to both Cardiff City and Hertha in the past two seasons. The Serbian now seems to be honing his craft in the Bundesliga after becoming a regular starter for his current club and he is progressing as a player. With lots competition in midfield at Liverpool, Grujic is hoping he can extend his stay in Germany before he battles for a first-team spot at Anfield. "I feel very comfortable in Berlin. Hertha gave me a great opportunity to play in the Bundesliga," Grujic told Bild. "I'm still pretty young, for me this time at Hertha - with the exception of injuries - has been brilliant so far to show my qualities. "But, ultimately, I cannot decide. But, if I could choose myself, I would stay with Hertha for another year, or maybe even two years, to make a very good name for myself by improving all my qualities. And that's only possible if you play every game." Grujic was described by Hertha's head coach Pal Dardai as "by far the best midfielder at Hertha Berlin in 20 years" last year. The 22-year-old has been enjoying his football at the Olympiastadion and has reiterated the fact that he hopes to remain at the club after his initial loan spell. He added: "Hertha is my favourite. I would love to stay here longer. And if Liverpool ever wanted to sell me and I could decide, it would be great if Hertha made an offer. "Most of all my self-confidence has increased due to the match practice. My defensive behaviour has also improved a lot because of the games." With Liverpool challenging for the Premier League title, Grujic reaffirmed that personal development is the most important thing at this point in his career rather than picking up a winners’ medal whilst not playing many games. He said: "Of course it would be great to be there. But for the development of my career at this time it is much more important to always be in the starting XI than to be mentioned by name." 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his excitement heading into a crucial period of fixtures for his side in their ongoing bid for silverware. The Reds are currently top of the Premier League by two points ahead of Manchester City, having played a game more than the reigning champions. They are also through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, with a two-legged tie against Porto up next. Liverpool reached the final of the competition last season, only to be beaten by Real Madrid, and they will be expected to reach the last four once again this time around. However, the first item on the agenda for Klopp's side is a home clash with Tottenham on Sunday, as they resume their title charge after the international break. The 51-year-old head coach is enthusiastic about the challenge ahead, insisting that 'each game is a final' for his players between now and May. “It is [exciting], absolutely,” the boss told Liverpool's official website. “That’s what we were always talking about – a season is like that, you constantly prepare a basis for the final weeks. We are now in the final weeks and there will be no interruption anymore, there will only be game after game after game, and they all are very, very important. “On the one side, opponents fight for the Champions League spots, and on the other, they will fight [to stay in] the league. “I think only Wolves in the last match, they are not fighting for Champions League and not fighting for staying in the league, but we all see what shape they are in – and they can go to the FA Cup final, so that’s exciting for them. But these are our opponents. “Champions League, we don’t have to talk about that because they are all finals, each game is a final. Hopefully, we can stay in that competition for a while. “We created a wonderful base, now let’s use it.” Klopp expects to have a full-strength squad at his disposal from Thursday, as he plots another win over Spurs. Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1 at Wembley in September and Mauricio Pochettino's men have suffered an alarming dip in form over the last couple of months. The Reds boss went on to divulge some team news ahead of their latest Premier League clash, revealing Xherdan Shaqiri and Trent Alexander-Arnold are still recovering from injuries. “We don’t have all the players who are away, but we have all the other players as well," Klopp added. "Bringing players back, step by step. OK, Shaq and Trent are still doing a bit of rehab, but the others are here and in good shape. Two sessions today and then one session a day. “All good and we’re really looking to this period now.”

Joe Gomez is nearing a return after almost four months out due to a leg injury as the Liverpool defender resumed training. Gomez, 21, needed surgery after suffering a leg fracture during his side's win at Burnley on December 5. The England international had made 12 Premier League starts before the setback, but manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed Gomez was close to a return. "It is nice. Joe is not injured anymore and nearly fit," Klopp told the club's website on Tuesday. "He will not be in the afternoon training session because he has to do something else – he has to work on his endurance, that's how it is and how the boys always have to do it, like Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] had to do it when he was finally back in training. "After a long time, I think Joe was out for 15 weeks, that is long, so he needs to now create the basis again for the rest of the season." In a further boost for the Premier League leaders, Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to return to full training next week as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered in April last year. Liverpool resume their league campaign with a clash at home to Tottenham on Sunday. Gomez hasn't played since being injured at Turf Moor in a challenge with Burnley's Ben Mee, interrupting what was turning into a fine season for the young England international. Brought in as first-choice centre-half for the opening game of the season, the 21 year-old performed admirably alongside Virgil van Dijk, and was awarded man of the match after a stirring display in a 2-1 win against Leicester City in September.  He has made 59 appearances for the Reds since signing from Charlton Athletic in 2015.

Louis van Gaal says he believes Manchester City are better than Barcelona, but that Liverpool are better than both as the three sides chase the Champions League title this season. Liverpool currently lead the Premier League by two points over Manchester City, who maintain a game in hand on their title rivals. The English duo are also still alive in the Champions League, with Liverpool having toppled Bayern Munich in their round of 16 clash while Manchester City took down Schalke with ease. And van Gaal says both are better than a team many see as the favourite to win the competition, Barcelona.  "People think Barcelona are the best but they are not. Manchester City and Liverpool are more of a team than Barcelona - and Liverpool are more of a team than City," he told BBC. "In my philosophy, the best team shall win but I hope for City because they play the best football." Van Gaal managed Barcelona from 1997-2000 before returning to the club for another stint from 2002-03. During his stay in Catalonia, van Gaal won La Liga twice, a Copa del Rey and a UEFA Super Cup. Barcelona are set to take on van Gaal's former club, Manchester United, in the next round as they are set to face off April 10 in England before the return leg in Spain six days later. Van Gaal's last managerial job was his stay with Manchester United, a frustrating tenure that ended in 2016 just days after van Gaal won the FA Cup. Despite not returning to the game since, van Gaal says he has had other offers, but he is also content with his legacy as it stands. "I have a philosophy. I was convinced of it and by winning trophies in four countries, I proved the philosophy worked," he says. "But my legacy is bigger than just my results. I am also a relations coach, not only with my players but everyone in a club. "It is not my image but I am very human in that way. At Manchester United there were more than 40 people in the performance department. The medical department, the fans. They all had a heart for the club. I went to work as an analyst at a game at Liverpool and the United fans were still shouting my name. "I am proud people still like me. That is what is most important in life."

Simon Mignolet is waiting to discover if the exit door at Liverpool will swing open this summer. The 2018-19 campaign has been a testing one for the Belgium international goalkeeper. Having previously been first choice at Anfield, he has found himself down the pecking order. He spent spells behind Loris Karius in 2017-18, before the German was allowed to head out on loan to Besiktas last summer. However this only came after Liverpool invest £65 million ($86m) in Brazilian star Alisson. With it clear that a big-money signing would take the No. 1 spot, Mignolet had been hoping that he would also be moved on. The 31-year-old was ultimately forced to stay put and has seen just two competitive outings this season. His situation appears unlikely to change any time soon, with Alisson enjoying a superb season on Merseyside. Mignolet is aware that Jurgen Klopp requires cover in this position, but has hinted that he will seek to free himself from the Liverpool bench when the next opportunity presents itself. He told TV Limburg after failing to see a single minute of Premier League football in 2018-19: “This season, it was something quite easy to accept, but, obviously, I’d like to play. “That’s why I keep working every day and try to keep on going on this path. “I don’t know if an exit is possible this summer, I still have two years left on my contract. “For now, I’m focused on Liverpool and Belgium games. We’ll see later.” Mignolet committed to a new long-term contract with Liverpool in January 2016. Then, he was an established member of the side and made 55 appearances across all competitions during the campaign. He has played more than 200 times for Liverpool in total, having joined from Sunderland in 2013.