Haaland's contract 'grates for a few reasons'

Being a Liverpool fan, fighting against Manchester City has often felt like we are competing on an un-level playing field.

They spent brilliantly to dominate the Premier League, but could buy with impunity. A £50m full-back does not work out? No problem, they just get another.

Liverpool would not get away with spending huge money on Kalvin Philipps and Mathueus Nunes, for example. If we stumped up £100m on this pair, that would be it - the midfield budget gone.

So Erling Haaland's new contract grates for a few reasons.

Firstly, Liverpool's own superstars have not had their deals renewed. FSG are haggling over the money and length of terms and we might lose Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. Three of the best players on the planet. City though, despite being in a rut, extend Haaland for a decade.

Secondly, City have endured their first poor run in a very long time and immediately, Pep Guardiola is given money to fix it. Claudio Echeverri has come in, with Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov arriving shortly in what could be a £100m+plus January spend. Liverpool are crying out for defensive reinforcements but the right opportunity just does not arise.

Thirdly, Haaland's renewal suggests City are extremely confident their punishment for the 115 charges will be minimal. After all, why would the Norwegian commit his whole career to a club facing potential relegation?

Liverpool need a win against Brentford, badly.

And a contract or transfer announcement, however unlikely, would be nice, too.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop