What Arne Slot’s Liverpool first team could look like in pre-season, with 17 first-team stars missing

Arne Slot started working as manager of Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s replacement officially started his role last weekend (June 1) and is now starting to make plans for his future at Anfield.

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In the coming weeks, he will start attending pre-season training as the players return in July from their holidays following the end of the Premier League season. But a summer full of international football means most of the Slot’s biggest stars will be missing.

The European Championships and Copa America are both taking place, and Mohamed Salah could also receive a call-up to Egypt’s squad for the Paris Olympics. That means up to 17 players could be missing by the time the Liverpool squad meet at the Slot for the first time, with those involved in international tours set to be given time off before returning to pre-season at a later date.

At this time, it is unclear when the Slot will take its first game. Liverpool are due to travel to the United States for a pre-season tour, with the first of three confirmed friendlies scheduled for July 26 against Real Betis in Pittsburgh. However, in previous years Liverpool have arranged friendlies before going on tour, meaning Slott’s first game could come before that.

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However, it looks like the Reds involved in international tours – including first-team stars such as Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson and many more – will be missing when Slot calls his name. first Liverpool starting XI. That could open the door for a lot of other players.

Sepp van den Berg and Nathaniel Phillips could be among the limited central defensive options after their recent loan spells, although they could play more to showcase themselves for their next move. There is a chance Jarell Quansah could feature as he is not expected to make Gareth Southgate’s final England squad for Euro 2024.

In midfield, Japan international Wataru Endo is one of the only first-team players not to be on international duty this summer. Tyler Morton, fresh from an impressive loan spell at Hull City, will likely get his chance to impress, while Stefan Bajcetic will be hoping for a full pre-season after an injury-plagued season last season.

In attack, Harvey Elliott was unlucky to miss out on the England squad and will be one of the few first-team regulars available for Slott’s entire pre-season. Fabio Carvalho is also looking to impress as he returns from his Hull City loan spell, while youngsters like Kaide Gordon or Jayden Danns could get a chance to impress in attack.

How Liverpool could line up in the first pre-season game: Caoimhín Kelleher, Conor Bradley, Sepp van den Berg, Nathaniel Phillips, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic, Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho, Kaide Gordon.