New Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be introduced to the media on Friday with the Reds’ pre-season about to begin. But ahead of the first group of players coming back, there are still plenty of things to get sorted out this summer.
The transfer market is not fully in gear yet, there are major contract calls to be made, and with the European Championship and Copa America still having a fortnight or so remaining, there are still lots of players yet to have a proper holiday. Liverpool still has time to get everything in order, but this summer will see a quick turnaround during a period of change.
Darwin Nunez and Uruguay might have helped to a small degree, however. It is likely that as group winners in the Copa America, Uruguay will face either Brazil or Colombia in the first knockout round.
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez may now battle Liverpool teammate as ‘spectacular’ moment spotted but scoring run ends
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Anthony Gordon latest, Riccardo Calafiori race, Mohamed Salah contract
As it stands, Brazil is second in its group but if the Selecao wins against Colombia, it would overtake them and end up topping the standings. In that case, Uruguay and Nunez would face Luis Diaz next.
The only way that Nunez could avoid playing another Liverpool star next would be if Brazil loses to Colombia and Costa Rica beats Paraguay, setting up a Uruguay vs Costa Rica game. In that instance, Brazil would be heading out.
In either eventuality, one Liverpool player will be heading for an early exit, even if Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina’s path to the final looks fairly straightforward. That will be a boost as a major star would then be back in pre-season training earlier than anticipated.
More importantly than that, though, is that one member of Slot’s coaching team could be back earlier too. The USMNT crashed out of the Copa America as a result of the defeat to Uruguay, with Christian Pulisic and co left seething amid some controversial refereeing.
On the USMNT’s coaching team is Fabian Otte, who is set to join Liverpool’s staff. And he can now do that with his work at the Copa America having come to an end.
Otte will replace John Achterberg, who left Anfield this summer to join Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia, along with assistant goalkeeping coach Jack Robinson. And his full focus can now be on that job, though it remains to be seen how long Alisson will remain in the US for the tournament.
Source link : https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/darwin-nunez-copa-america-liverpool-29455920.amp
Author :
Publish date : 2024-07-02 05:34:08
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.