Arne Slot has enjoyed a stellar start to his Liverpool reign… but there’s still work to be done. (Image: Getty)
Arne Slot and Richard Hughes have a three-point to-do list at Liverpool during the September international break.
The Reds have enjoyed the perfect start to the campaign, with Slot and co. winning their first three Premier League matches.
An opening-day win versus Ipswich Town was backed up by a comfortable triumph against Brentford before the six-time European champions secured yet another hefty win away to rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
It’s left Liverpool in a surprisingly strong position at the top of the table level on points with reigning champions Manchester City.
But as talk of a title challenge begins to pick up, Express Sport have detailed three things the Liverpool hierarchy need to work on during the international break.
Begin contract talks with key trio
Mohamed Salah’s revelation that this – as things stand – will be his last season at Liverpool somewhat took the gloss off Sunday’s victory at Old Trafford.
Salah is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract at the end of the season, with Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also in the final years of their deals.
Come January, the trio will be able to agree on pre-contract agreements with clubs abroad, but during that time, the Liverpool bigwigs should be doing all they can to open contract talks and tie Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold down to new deals.
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Mohamed Salah hinted this could be his final year as a Liverpool player. (Image: Getty)
Bed in new boy Chiesa ahead of hectic schedule
It was a transfer move that came out of nowhere, with Federico Chiesa penning a deal worth £12million with the Merseyside outfit in the final week of the transfer window
Watching on from the stands at Old Trafford, Chiesa will now be afforded the best part of two weeks to get his head down and prepare for the upcoming campaign.
The ex-Juventus star wasn’t called up to the latest Italy squad, meaning he’ll have plenty of time to work with Slot on the training ground while the rest of his team-mates are on international duty.
Martin Zubimendi was linked to a Liverpool move throughout the summer. (Image: Getty)
Prepare for January transfer window purchase
The summer window might’ve just slammed shut, but there’s no rest when it comes to prepping in the market – something the Liverpool chiefs will be all too aware of.
Despite Ryan Gravenberch’s stellar start to the season, it’s unclear whether the Dutchman playing as a single pivot at the base of midfield is a sustainable option – and any injury to him would hit the squad hard.
As such, the September international break will give Hughes and the rest of Liverpool’s transfer team, to scout for midfield options that could make the move to Merseyside this winter.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1943407/liverpool-tasks-arne-slot-transfer