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Liverpool could still make more changes to its roster before the September 1 transfer deadline, and Arne Slot would ideally bring in some more attacking talent to bolster the depth.
But the Liverpool head coach could be set to face his first major dilemma of the new season this weekend when it comes to team selection after a couple of injury returns. He might end up with one more player who is likely to start than there are places in the XI.
Dominik Szoboszlai was excellent at right-back against Newcastle United, and Slot tends to like having the Hungarian on the field somewhere for his energy and intelligence.
But if either Joe Gomez or Conor Bradley are back up to full speed again fitness-wise, then it would be fair to assume that Liverpool will go with a more natural fit for the position.
Alexis Mac Allister, Slot said, is not expected to be missing for long. Given how good the Argentine is at keeping possession and maintaining control of games, he should be in the center if he is able.
Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, who was suspended for Bournemouth but back in at Newcastle, is similarly as important at the base of the midfield.
In the 4-2-3-1 system that Liverpool has used so far this season, it has been a maximum of two out of Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Gravenberch in the middle, with that decision so far taking care of itself.
This could be the first time that Slot has to leave out one of them, assuming that he keeps Florian Wirtz as the number 10, with his front three of Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah.
One option would be to play Wirtz as a false nine — or in a front two with Szoboszlai, as was deployed against Manchester City in February — but that would mean leaving Ekitike out, which would seem incredibly harsh.
Someone, though, is going to have to sit the game out if everyone is fit.
So for all that Liverpool could do with some more depth, Slot might have a real headache to solve here. And that is before trying to tighten up his defense.
Virgil van Dijk pinpointed set-pieces as the main area for Liverpool to improve as he spoke to reporters at St James' Park, but insisted that he wasn't thinking about Arsenal being a particularly threatening opponent in the Premier League title race.
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"I don't look at it that way," Van Dijk said. "I look at it that we have to keep improving to retain the title. Many teams improved their squad but it is down to us personally to find the consistency and win games and nothing else matters.
"In the other years we were successful, we didn't look at the other teams. There is no point because all of the teams in the Premier League, in my opinion, are very good.
"I'm really looking forward to it. We're playing a fantastic team with a great manager, that has been challenging for the Premier League for many years now as well.
"The games we played against each other are very intense as well. We have a week now to prepare and we will recover now and then we have to be ready."
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