7 Truths: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo best celebrated together, Liverpool need a new striker

Forget comparing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo all the time: it’s so boring now. The fact is, if fans would cease constantly fighting to prove one or the other is better, we could all just appreciate the fact that we are following football at a time when the sport’s two greatest ever stars are gloriously swaggering away in their pomp. Amid the hysteria of the pair reaching a combined 1,000 career goals after Messi scored against Atletico, one thing was abundantly clear: it’s so much better to enjoy the ‘superhuman’ duo's incredible achievements together without attempting to constantly diminish the records of each. We’re all very fortunate to be watching football at a time when both are making history with obscene regularity – both individually and combined.

Okay, actually, let’s rephrase that title: Liverpool desperately need AT LEAST one new striker. Jurgen Klopp cut an enormously-frustrated figure on the touchline at Anfield as Christian Benteke floundered in attack once more, providing very little suggestion that he could be about to improve in a Liverpool shirt. The distinct lack of movement in the final third was even more stark than the shoddy finishing as West Ham sat back seemingly secure in the knowledge that little could go wrong. Klopp will surely know what is required for Liverpool to find a spark in the remainder of their campaign: one, if not two, high-quality forwards with the ability to provide effective movement and a genuine cutting edge in the final third. Benteke, sadly for him, is able to bring neither to the Anfield party.

As Kevin Keegan’s rant will forever demonstrate, a very big part of winning a league title is down to keeping emotions in check at crucial times. It may still only be January, but the way Atletico Madrid imploded emotionally at the Camp Nou was very alarming. Diego Simeone’s men have been billed as genuine Liga title contenders, largely due to two important factors: they are tactically well-drilled and they are mentally disciplined. Sadly against Barcelona in what is likely to be a hugely-significant match in the title race, the visitors lost all semblance of the latter. Two needless red cards ended Atletico’s hopes of claiming anything against Luis Enrique’s side, and they only had themselves to blame.

Manchester United face a huge struggle to wrestle back fourth place in the Premier League table, but it is clearly only the FA Cup which can save Van Gaal’s job. A triumph in the Europa League would be regarded as a very small bonus in a competition that the club still seem embarrassed to be in and obviously securing a top-four spot would be crucial; however, the FA Cup still carries weight with fans and, if United manage to win it playing attractive football (yes, the second ‘if’ is even bigger than the first) there could yet be hope for the Dutchman. Van Gaal is unlikely to remain at Old Trafford beyond this season, but the FA Cup can help lift a manager’s stock more than many give it credit for… just ask Arsene Wenger.

Often the phrase ‘all Premier League tie’ is used to imply a vague sense of competitiveness in the FA Cup fourth round, but when it came to Aston Villa hosting Manchester City that was hopelessly misguided. City’s second-string side outclassed Villa to an embarrassing extent and, frankly, the two sides could easily have been three leagues apart from the way the match played out at Villa Park. Kelechi Iheanacho’s hat-trick gave the scoreline the emphatic look it deserved while giving Villa exactly what they deserved.

While Manchester United need the FA Cup in a dismal campaign, Tottenham certainly do not. It is tempting to suggest that Mauricio Pochettino could target fairly realistic silverware in the competition, but his side has a genuine chance of claiming at least fourth spot in the Premier League table – something which would represent a huge achievement. With a five-point cushion over United, a knock-out stage berth in the Europa League and a fairly meagre squad, Tottenham could be well served to not enjoy an extended run in the FA Cup given how significant and memorable their Premier League season may well turn out to be. Spurs are one team who absolutely do not need the FA Cup this campaign, and Pochettino will soon have some very difficult team selections to make.

He’s been in and out of the West Brom side with alarming regularity, but Saido Berahino’s timely brace against Peterborough may have done just enough to convince a big club that he is still worth pursuing. Frequently out of favour at the Hawthorns and with his talent never in question, perceptions of Berahino’s attitude and application have always seemed to count against him. But Tony Pulis may well feel as though he’s tired of dealing with the forward and a top club could yet decide to throw sufficient funds at bringing in the 22-year-old to freshen up their forward ranks. Liverpool and Tottenham, among others, will likely have watched his double with great interest.