The World Cup break has ensured that an extra level of intrigue will be added to the return of domestic action over the festive period.
Some teams would not have been happy with the season being stopped for over a month, with those who carried momentum into that point of the season now at risk of losing it. In contrast, some clubs would have been delighted to be given the opportunity to regroup and attempt to rediscover their form.
Liverpool fall very much into the latter category.
Jurgen Klopp's side have experienced a difficult start to the campaign, performing well short of the levels we have become accustomed to seeing from them. While there were signs that they were rediscovering some form just before the World Cup, it is likely they will have been glad of the opportunity to regroup and get some players back from injury.
It is also clear that reinforcements will be needed in January. The club made a major mistake by not splashing out on a new midfielder during the summer, with their issues in that position being a major contributing factor to their patchy form.
They have reportedly already identified some potential targets, although they are unlikely to come cheap.
Liverpool target sees price increase after World Cup exploits
One player that has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield is Sofyan Amrabat. It is believed that Liverpool have been tracking his progress for some time now and he has been mooted as a potential January target for quite some time.
The Moroccan midfielder burst into the public consciousness after his performances in Qatar, starring in the tournament as his team reached the semi-finals. Unsurprisingly, that has now significantly added to his price tag ahead of a potential move in the weeks ahead.
Fichajes are reporting that Fiorentina will seek a fee in the region of €60million if they are to sell Sofyan Amrabat, a price that is well above what they would have been looking for prior to the World Cup.
The 26-year old is thought to be keen on a move to Merseyside, although it remains to be seen how much Liverpool will be willing to offer during the upcoming window. They are said to be keen on signing Jude Bellingham next summer, who could command a fee of around €150million. As a result, they may not want to pay over the odds for another midfield player before then.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out, although you get the sense that a deal is there to be made should Liverpool be determined to get it over the line.
SEE ALSO: Tim Sherwood Produces Shocking Blunder On Soccer Saturday
