Cavani grateful for fans' support

The Uruguayan scored in the 3-0 win at Tottenham in late October but has had precious little experience of celebrating with the away fans due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting his stay at the club.

With last year's games over Christmas played in empty stadiums, hopefully there will be full grounds this time around despite worries over the Omicron variant.

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has suggested the Salto-born striker is close to a return after an injury lay-off with a tendon problem, that has kept him out since the draw at Atalanta in early November.

"I've been fortunate enough to have had a season here already," Edi told club media in an exclusive interview. "But without the fans in the ground. So I was unable to enjoy that experience along with them.

"But I’ve got huge recognition for just how great and kind they’ve been with me, and I’m grateful, and always will be, for the songs they’ve made up for me. Because I think that, a lot of the time, things happen for a reason.

"I’m sure that, sometimes, certain stuff happens for a purpose, and I’m grateful, grateful for all the affection that the supporters and fans of this club show me. So, yes, we’ll see what happens. Let’s hope that it’s a really positive month for us all and then we can see what happens further on down the line."

Cavani is aware that the crammed fixture schedule for the remainder of the year and early part of 2022 offers an opportunity for plenty of things to change in the Premier League table.

However, he is refusing to look too far ahead, with the Reds, of course, unable to play Brentford on Tuesday due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the camp.

"I think one of the most important things, maybe one of the really key things here, is to always approach games and prepare for them on a strictly match-by-match basis," Cavani told us recently. "That really is what my vision of football is all about, my view of how a season might pan out.

"Don’t make a lot of plans in your head about anything in the long-term. ‘So, in December or whatever the date, we’ll be there or thereabouts.’ No, I think you have to prepare for each game like it was a final. And then, gradually, keep an eye on how things are going and what’s happening generally.

"So, I think December’s an important month, to think about and take in that way," he continued. "Focus on the next game, pick up vital points and then gradually keep adding to the points tally, so we can then get to the halfway point in the season, which comes at the end of December, and see what things are looking like then.

"Then, it’s all about keeping going in the same way, step by step, through until the end of the campaign. That’s, more or less, how I view the game of football and each competition we’re involved in."