Liverpool have made a winless start to 2026 and with boos ringing around Anfield at the weekend, you'd be forgiven for thinking the misery only looks set to continue. However it is important to keep perspective and consider the positives as we look ahead.
The form of Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is really beginning to find his feet and is also adding the goals and assists to show for it. The silky German has four goals and two assists in his last seven matches and his overall impact is impossible to ignore.
Moving on from an outstanding cameo in the cup against Barnsley, Flo's partnership with Hugo Ekitike really bore fruit with each assisting the other from the bench, including Wirtz's own superb finish.
The pair are really enjoying each other's company of late, with the French forward also playing a huge part in Wirtz's well taken opener against Burnley
The playmaker still has a ways to go to justify his high price tag last summer, but he is finding real form despite his side's slump in results and is arguably the first name on the Liverpool teamsheet of late.
The Return of Mo Salah
Although unaided by a fractured relationship with Arne Slot, Mohamed Salah has been a huge loss for Liverpool this month, with the forward guiding his nation to Fourth in the Africa Cup of Nations.
One of Salah's long list of qualities is his ability to score or assist crucial goals.
Liverpool have been struggling to get over the line in games of late and Salah could be vital in finding those moments that turn draws into wins.
It remains to be seen how the Egyptian's relationship with Slot will develop on his return, but few would argue his importance to the team in the second half of the season.
Fighting on Three Fronts
Beginning with a weird positive, Liverpool remain fourth despite a very shaky season and a Champions League spot remains a real possibility.
Although it would feel a bare minimum, it is far greater a win than the loss of the Europe's biggest competition would be next season.
Liverpool are also still fighting on domestic and European fronts this season with another big Champions League game to come midweek.
Although they'd hope to avoid the play-offs, it is all but confirmed as a bare minimum, meaning the Reds will extend that particular competition into the Spring.
Liverpool will also be eyeing silverware in the form of the world's greatest cup competition. Slot's surprisingly strong eleven in the FA Cup tie with Barnsley suggests it is a competition Liverpool will be taking seriously and they will certainly remain one of the favourites to lift the trophy.