Six players return to Liverpool but one is still absent as internal talks are scheduled

Six senior Liverpool players returned to the AXA Training Centre for the start of pre-season training on Sunday

Liverpool began their journey back to Merseyside on Sunday after defeating Manchester United 3-0 in their final friendly of their pre-season tour of the United States. But as they flew home, a number of Reds stars were reporting to the AXA Training Centre for the start of their own preparations for the new campaign.

Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have joined their US teammates after extended spells at Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

However, Arne Slot was still without seven of his star players during Liverpool’s stay in the United States due to their international excursions in the off-season.

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The Reds traditionally grant their players a three-week break after such summer exploits, although some return earlier – such as Mac Allister, who joined his team-mates on Friday after lifting the Copa America last month.

But Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were all back at the AXA Training Centre on Sunday after their summer break.

The Liverpool captain was in good spirits, saying: “Good morning, good morning. Welcome back,” as he walked up the stairs of the club’s training complex. Meanwhile, Gakpo warmly greeted the club’s media team, saying: “My friends! How are you?” before hugging club staff behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, Nunez and Diaz were caught on camera hugging club staff in the canteen as the pair wished everyone a good morning and asked how they were doing.

Alexander-Arnold and Gomez were seen arriving at the cafeteria in the 66-second clip posted to social media, before taking a seat alongside Van Dijk and Gakpo as they chatted to their teammates.

While the Hexet is back in training, Alisson Becker is yet to return following Brazil’s quarter-final exit from the Copa America last month. However, the ECHO understands Slot is expected to reunite his entire inherited squad at the AXA Training Centre by Tuesday.

Of course, most of the new signings are likely to hold talks with club bosses for a variety of reasons when Liverpool’s new boss returns to Kirkby following the US tour early next week.

Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold remain out of contract next year, along with Mohamed Salah. While there is no suggestion at this stage that any of the trio will leave the club this summer, further talks will need to take place over future plans.

Both Alexander-Arnold and Gakpo will also speak to Slot about his intentions for them on the pitch this season, if such discussions have not already taken place, following the debate over their best positions for club and country. The Dutchman has already spoken to Nunez about the role he envisages for the forward in his team.

Meanwhile, Gomez’s future remains uncertain after it emerged that Liverpool had agreed a swap deal with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon at the end of June, which would have seen the England international do the opposite in a separate transfer.

Gomez was aware of such developments and now has a decision to make over his future amid significant interest from a number of other clubs.

Meanwhile, Diaz has been the subject of speculation for several months amid continued interest from Barcelona.

Although Liverpool are currently well-stocked on the left wing, their interest in Gordon raises questions over the Colombian’s long-term future at Anfield.

Talks will also be held over the future of a number of players in Liverpool’s ranks who have travelled to the United States. It has emerged that offers have already been rejected for Wataru Endo, Sepp van den Berg, Bobby Clark and Fabio Carvalho in recent weeks, and that internal talks will be held with Ben Doak and his representatives after he attracted loan interest from the likes of Leicester City and Southampton.

Tyler Morton is also attracting interest from the likes of RB Leipzig and Atalanta, while the likes of Owen Beck, James McConnell and Jayden Danns are also said to have their suitors – either on loan or permanently.