The first day of pre-season under Arne Slot is over and things appeared to go well . There was a positive mood in Kirkby as 16 players were spotted around the AXA Training Centre and the Liverpool head coach spoke positively during a press conference .
With just 42 days left until Liverpool takes to the field for the first time in the Premier League under its new boss, though, it remains the case that there is a lot to be sorted out. Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes are in daily contact and there are major transfer decisions and contract calls to be undertaken.
On the training field, Slot will work with a growing number of senior players as the weeks pass and those who have either been away or are still at international tournaments are re-added to the group. And then, of course, there is the pre-season trip to the US .
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What most Liverpool fans will have been keenly listening for during Slot and Hughes' press conference, though, is what the pair had to say about transfers. As ever, the word "opportunistic" was used when it came to describing the Reds' stance in the market.
"When there are major competitions during the summer — a European Championship, Copa America and the Olympics as well — there's a lot of football being played, naturally the attention is going to be there," Hughes said.
"And I think that after the ( Premier League -wide) flurry that there was in June, it will calm down a little bit now. That would be my prediction for the month of July. And then like always, when August starts and coaches have had more time to work with players, I think then the opinions will be more set at football clubs."
Slot inherited a good squad at Liverpool and there are calls to be made on players like Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho , who impressed on loan. Each of them could be used by the Reds next season — or they could be sold for a healthy profit.
In terms of incomings, however, the dream scenario should remain clear. Liverpool is eyeing up a move for Lille wonderkid Leny Yoro if his switch to Real Madrid doesn't happen . The 18-year-old is thought to prefer a move to the Spanish giant but so far, Los Blancos have not met the player's asking price and Lille doesn't want to lose him on the cheap.
In a dream scenario, that would be a transfer move that Liverpool could get done. If not, the Reds need to find an alternative. With Joel Matip gone and Ibrahima Konate's injury history checkered, it would be a gamble not to bring in another body in that department, highly thought of though Jarell Quansah remains.
Again, in a dream world, Liverpool would also be able to bring in a world-class holding midfield player to unleash Alexis Mac Allister . The chances of that happening, though, are probably slim. If there was someone available on the market, Liverpool would have made a move 12 months ago. Should something arise, Liverpool would surely pounce.
In attack, Anthony Gordon has admirers at Anfield. The Newcastle United forward hit double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League last season and that kind of output from a 23-year-old winger is worth taking note of.
While a deal broke down for Gordon when Newcastle wanted Quansah in part-exchange, the Newcastle Chronicle reports that the Magpies feel Liverpool could return for the player. They are lining up a new contract offer as a result but the dream outcome would see Gordon end up at Anfield just 18 months after he left Everton to move to the North East.
Transfer-wise, those are the three areas that Liverpool should be targeting for an upgrade. Keeping Caoimhin Kelleher has to be a priority too, as he would be near-impossible to replace. And then there are new contracts to be sorted out for Mohamed Salah , Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold .
Slot and Hughes have faced the media for the first time. Now, the focus can return to their lengthy summer to-do list.
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