Liverpool supporters have been in joyous mood in the Transfer Tavern this week after seeing their side thump struggling West Ham 4-1 at the London Stadium on Saturday, a result which moved them up to fifth place in the Premier League table.

Jurgen Klopp’s men went into their clash with the East London outfit having beaten both Huddersfield Town and Maribor in the preceding seven days, and they made a fast start with goals from Mohamed Salah and Joel Matip firing them into a two-goal lead at half time. And although the hosts hit back through Manuel Lanzini ten minutes after the break, the Reds shut the door almost immediately thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first league goal for the club, before Salah bagged his second and Liverpool’s fourth late on to complete the rout.

Thus, there has been a huge buzz among our resident Liverpudlians in the Tavern this week, with many significantly more optimistic about their chances this season following a week in which they moved up to fifth in the Premier League, and closed in on a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

They have eight days to wait though until they return to league action, although that gives those Reds fans lining up at the bar ample time to discuss potential January transfer business their side may conduct.

Liverpool only brought in four players during the summer but could certainly look to strengthen defensively in the New Year, although there will be some individuals who want out of Anfield in a bid to get more regular football.

And, as such, here are TWO Liverpool stars who must seek a January exit for the sake of their own careers…

Danny Ings

It has been a testing time for Danny Ings at Liverpool ever since he made the move from Burnley back in 2015.

The one-time England international has managed just 12 first team appearances for the Reds in the last two years or so, with injuries blighting his progress at Anfield, and indeed his chances of adding to his solitary England cap.

Nonetheless, the 25-year-old has played much Premier League 2 football this season and has indeed featured for the senior side in their Carabao Cup clash at Leicester City in September, so it would suggest that he is on the road to recovery – he just needs regular football to reach his best once again.

However, it’s unlikely to happen at Liverpool, and with the World Cup an outside aim for Ings in the summer, he must seek a move away from Anfield, be it temporarily or permanently, in the New Year.

Daniel Sturridge

Striker Daniel Sturridge has also endured a tricky time at Anfield in the last few years, with the 28-year-old failing to convince Klopp of his all round capabilities as a forward.

The England star managed just seven Premier League starts last term in the Reds’ ascent to fourth place in the division, with Sturridge struggling to dispose the likes of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Philippe Coutinho from the starting eleven.

Yet there’s little doubt that the striker still remains one of the country’s most prolific and lethal finishers, and he will certainly be in contention for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad next summer, but only if he gets regular gametime.

His exclusion from the recent squad for matches against Germany and Brazil may serve as a wake-up call to Sturridge, who as such must look for a move away in the January window.