The summer of 2024 is arguably the most important at Anfield for nearly a decade. Jürgen Klopp took over from Brendan Rodgers in the October of the 2015-2016 campaign, leading Liverpool to the League Cup and Europa League finals and unfortunately losing both of them.
It was the start of a period of success, however, with the Reds going on to win two League Cups, the Premier League, Champions League, an FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup under the German, all whilst competing against a Manchester City side that had 115 charges against it from the Premier League for alleged financial irregularities.
Liverpool fans welcome Jurgen Klopp and team coach to Anfield for final time
City 115 Title Parade 😏
Klopp Alone Is Bigger Then City 115😮💨 pic.twitter.com/w0OCdkYDxK
— Sarah (@JATTSOPRANO316) May 26, 2024
Klopp completely changed the atmosphere at Anfield, turning Liverpool back into the feared side that it had been in the 1970s and 1980s. Unfortunately, it took a toll on the man himself and in the January of 2024 he confirmed that he would be stepping down as manager.
The Reds ended the season with a League Cup, missing out on the FA Cup, Europa League and Premier League silverware despite early promise. Arne Slot was announced as Jürgen Klopp’s replacement, arriving from Feyenoord having impressed with the Dutch side. Named as the ‘Head Coach’, Slot has been informed of the pre-season plans that the club has in place.
The European Championship & Copa América
One of the first problems that Slot has to contend with is the fact that there are two major tournaments taking place this summer. A number of Liverpool players are involved with both the European Championship, which is taking place in Germany, and the Copa América, hosted by the United States of America. Here is a look at the players that will be busy for at least a portion of the period that Slot will be looking to work with his squad:
- Andy Robertson (Euros with Scotland)
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Euros with Hungary)
- Cody Gakpo (Euros with the Netherlands)
- Virgil van Dijk (Euros with the Netherlands)
- Ryan Gravenberch (Euros with the Netherlands)
- Diogo Jota (Euros with Portugal)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Copa América with Argentina)
- Alisson Becker (Copa América with Brazil)
- Luis Díaz (Copa América with Colombia)
- Darwin Núñez (Copa América with Uruguay)
- Joe Gomez (Euros with England)
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (Euros with England)
- Ibrahima Konaté (Euros with France)
It means that there will be a staggered return for many players, with those that get reasonably far in their respective tournaments then needing to have a break before they meet up with the rest of the Liverpool squad.
Meeting at the Start of July
The plan had been for Liverpool’s pre-season campaign to get underway in the middle of July. Once he was confirmed as the new Reds boss, however, Arne Slot decided to bring that forward by a week. As a result, it is believed that the players not involved in either of the international tournaments will reconvene in the first week of July.
That will give the Dutchman a chance to get used to his new job and meet at least some of the players that he’ll be working with. It will be difficult, of course, with so many key members of the Liverpool squad in either Germany or the United States of America for their international tournaments.
@liverpoolfc Ahead of our pre-season visit to the US, we asked Trevor Noah why Stateside #PL ♬ original sound – Liverpool FC
In previous years, the Reds have got their pre-seasons underway with low-key matches against the likes of Tranmere Rovers. It remains to be seen whether that will also happen this time around, but the fact that such matches can be arranged with relatively short notice means that it can’t be ruled out.
The club might also choose to have some games behind-closed-doors, which will also make them much easier to organise. What Slot will doubtless want to do is have a close look at the players that he’s going to get to work with, as well as introduce his ideas to his new team and get them working to carry out his tactical instructions.
Touring America
Given the fact that Fenway Sports Group own the club, it is perhaps somewhat surprising that the Reds don’t tour the United States of America on a more regular basis. Regardless, there is a plan to head to the US this summer for the pre-season tour, with Slot taking any players that have not been selected for international duty.
The club’s first fixture is on the 27th of July at the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, which is where they’ll be taking on Real Betis. Quite how many of the first team players will be there for selection for the game remains to be seen. Here are the other planned games in the United States:
- July 31st – Liverpool v Arsenal – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- August 3rd – Liverpool v Manchester United – Brice Stadium, South Carolina
Bedding In
Ultimately, this is a pre-season that Arne Slot will need to use to bed-in to his new job. It is believed that he will bring a number of members of his backroom staff at Feyenoord with him to Anfield, including the likes of his assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff, the head of performance Ruben Peeters and his technical advisor Etienne Reijnen.
Hulshoff was also the assistant for the Netherlands national side but left his post before the start of the European Championship in order to start his role at Liverpool. Slot, meanwhile, was photographed on holiday with his family, enjoying some post-season time off before his new job began.
It is somewhat unfortunate that the Dutchman won’t get to work with all of his players straight away. Whilst he will doubtless be watching how they all get on in the Euros and Copa América, it obviously isn’t the same as getting to work closely with them on the training pitch and explain his vision for the future of Liverpool to them all. It is a less than idea start to his time in the Anfield hot-seat, but many will be expecting his first season at the club to be something of a transitional one.
Given the fact that so many of the first-choice players won’t be available for him to work with until the start of August, that might have to be the case.
