2 weeks ago
9
Incredibly, it's only been 11 days since Liverpool's last-minute Premier League defeat at Chelsea.
The fallout from that loss at Stamford Bridge and the subsequent international break has made it feel more like 111 days, but rest assured, significant work will have been done at the AXA Training Centre over the past week and a half.
Despite the break offering some respite for him and his squad, Arne Slot would have been diligently analysing the circumstances of the three consecutive losses that have abruptly turned this Liverpool season into one of self-examination, with questions being raised about almost everyone, including the Dutchman himself.
The comprehensive answers to those queries will emerge in the coming weeks, but as Slot surveyed Kirkby in recent days, he may have spotted a few potential solutions to some of his most urgent problems.
Due to injuries, Alisson, Wataru Endo, and Giovanni Leoni were unable to join their national teams during this international break, but there were also three other Reds first-team players who weren't selected by their countries.
Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Federico Chiesa have all spent the past week and a half improving their fitness away from their missing teammates, with personalized gym sessions and special programmes implemented for three players who have all struggled with injuries.
All three players, boasting a combined 72 senior caps, have international experience under their belts.
Gomez was a regular feature in England squads toward the end of the last decade, and regained his spot last year, making four friendly appearances and earning a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2024.
Jones, among the trio, might feel most aggrieved about being overlooked after starting in England's midfield under Lee Carsley and Thomas Tuchel, even scoring on his debut against Greece last year.
Unfortunately, ill-timed injuries seem to have thwarted him once again.
Then there's the enduring puzzle that is Chiesa, who holds 51 of those 72 caps but hasn't represented Italy since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2024, despite playing in all four of the Azzurri's matches at the Euros.
Despite their impressive track records, it's not surprising that the trio's international recognition has been limited in the current window, given their recent struggle for club appearances - they've only started five matches between them this season, three of which were during the League Cup victory over Southampton.
However, with doubts surrounding both the form and fitness of Ibrahima Konate in defence, similar concerns arising over Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, and the team's recent struggles in attack, Gomez, Jones and Chiesa all have the opportunity to make a case for more starts in the coming weeks.
Slot will have been closely observing them over the past few days, and they may well have piqued his interest.
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