It’s the dawning of a brand new period for Liverpool as Arne Slot takes over within the scorching seat, however which gamers have a degree to show to him in pre-season?
For the primary time since October 2015, the Reds have a brand new man on the helm, and meaning the gamers have somebody new to impress as followers reserve their judgement for when it issues.
All this transformation ensures doorways shall be opened for some who struggled to seek out the important thing prior to now, whereas others will really feel they should step up and show their value.
For some, they’ll solely have a short while to arrange for the marketing campaign whereas others shall be there from day one.
All of it makes for an intriguing pre-season forward, and right here we glance a the six gamers who’ve a degree to show to Slot within the lead-up to the 2024/25 season.
Darwin Nunez
After discovering himself underneath the microscope final season for his wastefulness in entrance of aim, Darwin Nunez will once more be within the highlight this summer season.
His time with Slot earlier than the season begins shall be restricted resulting from his involvement in Copa America however stories declare the ahead is seen as “essential” to the Dutchman’s plans.
A vote of confidence from the off, however he wants to point out an improved degree of ruthlessness and that he might be relied upon to have an affect within the huge video games, which has been missing.
The hope shall be he returns from worldwide responsibility with a lift in confidence and able to tackle the brand new problem at Anfield – his place within the XI is determined by it.
Ibrahima Konate
Dropped for Jarell Quansah on the backend of final season, although he insists that was not the case, Ibrahima Konate has a battle on his arms.
His damage document and the opportunity of the membership dipping into the marketplace for a brand new centre-back leaves him susceptible, particularly as he too will solely have a short while to impress.
Konate is a expertise Liverpool are fortunate to have, and he nonetheless has his peak years forward of him, however his place won’t be a given and he must show he might be persistently relied upon.
Fabio Carvalho
Reporting for day one in every of pre-season, Carvalho shall be afforded loads of time to catch the attention of Slot and his workers after a confidence-boosting few months on mortgage at Hull.
He was a sq. peg in a spherical gap underneath Klopp, and with the potential for the No. 10 place to open up within the XI, Carvalho may effectively flip the web page on his Anfield profession.
The 21-year-old was topic to curiosity from Slot’s former membership, Feyenoord, throughout his time in cost and that may very well be simply the increase he must showcase his abilities all through the summer season.
Joe Gomez
Liverpool’s longest-serving participant and one who even pre-dates the arrival of Jurgen Klopp, Joe Gomez has one of many extra attention-grabbing challenges forward of him.
His favoured place is at centre-back, however he continues to face stiff competitors there, whereas Slot’s calls for of his full-backs could imply the door isn’t as open because it was underneath his predecessor.
It is going to be intriguing to see how Gomez forces his method into Slot’s plans, he’ll arrive contemporary from England’s Euros marketing campaign, at any time when that could be, and the ball shall be in his court docket to show his credentials.
Kostas Tsimikas
There’s nonetheless the query of whether or not Kostas Tsimikas will even stay on the membership lengthy sufficient to make an impression, however the level stands that he has one thing to show.
Slot asks numerous his left-sided defensive participant, and the Greek’s inconsistencies and wish for a constant run of video games to seek out type leaves him in a susceptible place.
He isn’t a long-term choice and it’ll take a lot for that perspective to vary, you sense.
Andy Robertson remains to be forward of him within the pecking order and with thrilling youth within the wings and the potential for a brand new signing, Tsimikas faces a steep uphill battle.
Stefan Bajcetic
Final season was an entire write-off for Stefan Bajcetic, with solely three appearances halting the spectacular progress he made on the backend of the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
With Klopp not in his nook, there’s a new supervisor to impress and confidence to instil in himself and people on the membership that his physique can now deal with constant first-team soccer.
He’s nonetheless solely 19, and whereas he has loads of thrilling potential, pre-season will show decisive in how his function within the squad is formed.
The younger weapons
Slot is thought to point out religion in younger gamers and is able to assist mould them into common first-team members, which can make sure the legacy left by Klopp will proceed.
With this in thoughts, Owen Beck, Luke Chambers and Kaide Gordon are a couple of names who shall be wanting to thrust themselves into Slot’s considering as they are going to be concerned from the primary day of pre-season.
All have senior expertise and have already got a standing with the first-team squad, however it will likely be of specific curiosity to see if the brand new head coach favours both Beck or Chambers over Tsimikas.
That may very well be telling certainly.
One other two names value mentioning are Tyler Morton and goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, each of whom impressed throughout their loans final season and face a crossroad as as to if they are going to be saved on or moved on, both on mortgage or a everlasting switch.
