Liverpool quiet in January sales
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers does not expect to be particularly active in the transfer window and will put his faith in the raft of signings he made in the summer.
Despite concerns over form at either ends of the pitch the Reds boss is unlikely to be looking to rectify either when the market reopens in January.
Rodgers will have striker Daniel Sturridge fit again by the middle of next month and fellow forward Mario Balotelli will almost certainly see out the season despite his disappointing performances - having not scored a Premier League goal since his B#16million move from AC Milan - meaning he will be on the bench for most of the second half of the season.
"My first look is always within and I still think we have players who can do that," said the Northern Irishman when asked about what business he may do in the coming weeks.
"There won't be a lot of activity, if any, in January.
"I don't think it is a good time to spend. Last year we never brought anyone in.
"The beauty of our owners is they will always back what it is we want to do and if there was something there we felt would improve us for the short-term and longer term we would do that but I am happy with how the group is progressing.
"We brought in a lot of players (in the summer) who we felt could develop and they are starting to adapt.
"My job is to coach and manage the players here and maximise that talent.
"Years ago players were given time to come into a club and settle and now they are getting judged after one or two days.
"It is so difficult. It is not going to be one or two months (to adapt) and we have also brought in young players.
"I can understand that but it is never that easy for supporters and other people to understand.
"We brought them here because they are very good players, we feel they can contribute now and for the future, and you can see with the work, settling in period and coaching we will see progress being made over the next couple of years.
"Unless it was something that would significantly improve us then I don't want to stockpile players."
Despite a number of false dawns the 4-1 win over Swansea, securing back-to-back league wins for only the third time this season, was seen as a turning point.
As they head into the new year, a period 12 months ago when results went into overdrive as they mounted an unlikely title challenge, Rodgers is looking for another upturn.
"It has been another year of progress," he said ahead of the visit of struggling Leicester.
"I know since the start of the season it hasn't been as good as we want but over the course of 2014 we have made significant strides forward."
Meanwhile, Nigel Pearson has issued a new year challenge to his Leicester side as he targets survival.
The Foxes boss takes them to Liverpool after their key victory at Hull kept them in touch at the bottom.
They are still at the foot of the Barclays Premier League but are now just three points adrift of the safety line.
The 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium on Sunday was their first in 14 attempts since September's 5-3 win over Manchester United.
And, as they battle against the drop after winning the Sky Bet Championship last season, Pearson has thrown down the gauntlet to his side.
"We're still in a difficult situation, we've managed to keep in touch and we want to back up the result with more positive results. Whether we get the performance or not is secondary," he said.
"We are all aware of the fact that our form needs to be upped in 2015 and that's our next challenge.
"Football can throw up some interesting experiences. Hopefully we can move on from this.
"It's been a year of contrasts. In many ways it has been a good year but at the moment it has been frustrating. I'm not going to get one way or the other. It's difficult to always look at things evenly.
"We've experienced some real highs and real lows. But we're still working hard at it. We're still progressing.
"Our challenge for 2015 is very big as was the eventual outcome last year. Let's hope we can have another successful outcome. It just shows you how relative success is."
Pearson is without the suspended Paul Konchesky and Andy King (thigh) but welcomes back Jamie Vardy after a ban.
Matt Upson (foot) remains out with Kasper Schmeichel after the keeper broke his metatarsal earlier this month.
Source: PA
