Skipper Steven Gerrard was charged last night with assault and affray after an incident at a Southport nightclub on Sunday night. He’ll appear in court on January 23rd, with two other men. But back to the football, there’s still much to talk about with the title topping Reds as the New Year approaches’¦

This morning’s Mirror says that Emile Heskey will make a decision soon as whether to leave Wigan in favour of a £4million move to re-join Liverpool.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is preparing a cut-price £4million bid. And Latics owner and chairman Dave Whelan said: “It all depends on what Emile wants to do.”

Former Reds defender and now football pundit gives his assessment of Liverpool’s title credentials in today’s Liverpool Daily Post:

Without doubt, Liverpool are now the team to stop as far as anyone harbouring ambitions of the title should be concerned.

They have been picking up points when not always playing to their best, but have also shown how clinical they can be at the peak of their game.

It just goes to show Liverpool have become a team for all seasons with a squad for all occasions.

The Daily Telegraph’s Henry Winter warns Liverpool not to get too carried away with their current Premier League position. The Reds sit top of the table, clear by three points going into 2009, but Winter says Chelsea and Manchester United are really not that far behind.

Many of Liverpool’s luminaries are undoubtedly excelling, like Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Albert Riera and Jamie Carragher. Fernando Torres has still to return, so Liverpool can shift up another gear, but Chelsea and United have at least two levels to move up.

Meanwhile the Liverpool Daily Post has quotes from Daniel Agger who says he has every desire to stay at Anfield, but may be forced into a move away if he loses his place in the team.

Agger was sidelined for almost 12 months with a metatarsal problem and, after returning to full fitness in the summer, struggled to regain his place in the starting line-up before Martin Skrtel suffered a knee injury in October.

Agger had expressed his frustration at being on the sidelines, with reports in his homeland hinting the 24-year-old was considering buying out his contract.