When key Liverpool players could return as Arne Slot faces race for opening game – Liverpool Echo

Liverpool have players returning from international duty with important talks still to be held at the AXA Training Ground
Trent Alexander-Arnold understandably cut a frustrated figure following England’s disappointing Euro 2024 final loss to Spain on Sunday night, having been left unused again by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate. No sooner had his runners-up medal being placed around his neck and he ripped it off, while he was one of the very first to walk through the mixed zone at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, eager to leave the dressing room after a night to forget.
The Liverpool defender had started the tournament as first-choice, albeit out of position in midfield, only to be withdrawn prematurely in England’s first two group games as he was harshly scapegoated for their overall team failings.
The rest of his involvement in Germany was limited to substitute cameos. He featured for just six minutes against Slovenia in England’s final group game as they were held to a 0-0 draw, while came on for the final five minutes of extra-time in the quarter-final victory over Switzerland.
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Scoring the winning penalty in their shoot-out triumph, such a moment is the highlight of Alexander-Arnold’s international career to date. But having already been left unused in the round-of-16 against Slovakia as the Three Lions toiled to an extra-time win, he was a spectator once more for the semi-final win over Netherlands and final loss to Spain.
The sight of Kyle Walker being at fault for both Spanish goals in the final, and Kieran Trippier being stripped to come on ahead of him prior to the Spain winner will likely sting also. But that is just the tip of the individual iceberg for Alexander-Arnold from a tournament that ultimately provided more lows than highs.
Of course, he wasn’t the only Liverpool star to suffer disappointment on Sunday, with Joe Gomez once again left unused alongside him in Germany. In an impressive season for the Reds, he had reclaimed his international place back after a three and a half year absence in March, and featured in all four of England’s friendlies across the two international windows prior to Euro 2024.
Such a return was a triumph, having cruelly been stopped in his tracks at a time when he was first-choice at centre-back for Liverpool by a season-ending knee injury when away with England back in November 2020. It took him time to rediscover his form and be in a place when he could make an international return.
Yet he was left unused throughout Euro 2024 and is now at something of an international career crossroads. When he signed a contract extension with the Reds in July 2022, sources spoke of how club bosses believed they had just locked down one of England’s top centre-backs and that Gomez’s best years were still ahead of him.
Aged 27, such a fact is still true, even if he transformed into a utility defender for club and country last season. With a new head coach through the door at Anfield in Arne Slot, time will tell what his role will be under the Dutchman.
On the international stage, a centre-back vacancy remains open. Harry Maguire, who missed Euro 2024 through injury, and John Stones are aged 31 and 30 respectively, while Lewis Dunk is 32 years old. It would be a shock if the Brighton & Hove Albion defender is still in the reckoning when the Three Lions travel to Canada, Mexico and the United States for the next World Cup in 2026, while the former pair will also find themselves under pressure.
There are emerging centre-back talents, such as Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and Levi Colwill. Gomez will be hopeful he can continue to remain part of a group, with Euro 2024 acting only as a second step after international reprieve rather than a farewell tour.
Beyond the pair, Luis Diaz suffered his own disappointment in the Copa America final on Sunday night, as his Colombia side lost 1-0 to Alexis Mac Allister’s Argentina.
With Liverpool traditionally granting their internationals a three-week holiday after their close-season excursions, the quartet won’t return to the AXA Training Centre for pre-season until August and will miss the tour of the United States as a result.
Darwin Nunez is in the same boat after finishing third in the Copa America, courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over Canada on Saturday night. It remains to be seen if Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch will be expected to join up with their team-mates in the United States after the Netherlands’ semi-final loss to England last Wednesday, or if they will wait for their return back in Kirkby when making their own pre-season returns.
Slot has already spoken to Nunez and Van Dijk about their roles in his Liverpool, with the club captain’s future still needing to be resolved ahead of his contract expiring next summer.
But further talks are needed with Alexander-Arnold when he makes his own return next month, given his own deal also expires next summer. Meanwhile, discussions with Luis Diaz regarding his stance on his own future could well be sought as speculation linking him with an exit to Barcelona continues.
Liverpool’s Premier League season now gets underway in little over a month away at Ipswich Town on August 17, with a number of key players not due back for pre-season until less than two weeks before that trip to Suffolk.
While Slot might have to wait a little while longer yet to meet the aforementioned players, plenty still needs to be resolved for the Reds before the new campaign gets underway.

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