Still plenty of unknowns for Liverpool heading into new season

But while so many of the playing faces remain the same from last season — Joel Matip and the retired Thiago Silva the only significant departures — there are few other “knowns” as the Dutchman starts his Anfield reign.

Liverpool supporters have certainly needed little encouragement to get behind the 45-year-old former Feyenoord manager and his style which more closely resembles Pep Guardiola’s passing game than Klopp’s “gegenpress” and “heavy metal” approach.

Pressing, of course, remains a staple on this old-look new Liverpool, as it is on most elite teams, although perhaps not in the same, high-octane helter-skelter way of the Klopp glory years.

And a 4-2-3-1 formation looks like being Slot’s favoured approach, based on the weekend win over Sevilla, rather than the German’s beloved 4-3-3.

That, incidentally, promises to make this a vital campaign for Darwin Nunez, whose occasional brilliance is undisputed but whose finishing and consistency are unpredictable, to say the least. Diogo Jota has impressed in pre-season in the competition for the one orthodox forward position it appears that Slot will use, which adds to the pressure on Nunez to even get a regular start.

But, if there is a logic in having kept intact a squad which finished nine points off first place last season, there has been a slightly anxious response in some Kop quarters to the fact that Liverpool are yet to make a summer signing and have three major contract headaches going into the new campaign.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mo Salah — and are there three more symbolically important players in the current Liverpool squad? — are all entering the final year of their contracts and could, in theory, sign for overseas clubs in January.

Van Dijk admitted as recently as Sunday that there was no movement on the contract talks and the prospect of allowing all three to run down their current deals and leave for nothing next summer sounds like a financial catastrophe for the club.

Of less importance, although still a factor, the fate of three such iconic Anfield legends threatens to be a sideshow and distraction that shadows Liverpool for much of the campaign and rears its head every time a microphone is thrust in front of any of the trio.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Sevilla's Orjan Nyland reacts following during the pre-season friendly match at Anfield. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

A further blow came last night when their hopes of signing primary transfer target Martin Zubimendi were dashed after the player opted to remain at Real Sociedad.

A half-time replacement for Rodri in the summer Euro 2024 final win over England, Zubimendi is 25 and is viewed as the same sort of high-quality playmaking holding midfielder as the Manchester City man. That Liverpool were so keen is another sign that Slot’s style will more closely resemble their north-west rivals than did Klopp’s Liverpool.

In a window where all their key rivals have already made significant signings, with the promise of more to come, some Liverpool supporters will inevitably have been expecting more; and Zubimendi decision will come as a massive blow.

“As a club like we are, we are always looking if we can strengthen the squad but it is not so easy to strengthen the squad,” said Slot on Sunday.

“I said many times before, I inherited a real strong team and if we can and if we think it is possible we will strengthen the squad but only if we can and only if we think it is possible.”

That sounds a sensible approach and, so far at least, there has been nothing but goodwill from Liverpool supporters towards their new manager and the promise of a new-look style. Pre-season victories over Real Betis, Sevilla and, above all, Arsenal and Manchester United — four wins from their only four games in front of crowds — have certainly fuelled that optimism.

But, still, the upheaval at all levels of the club management structure is in stark contrast to the playing side and should not be underestimated.

The return of Michael Edwards as chief exec has been welcomed and Richard Hughes has been recruited from Bournemouth as sporting director.

Beneath them, the only significant holdover from Klopp’s staff is goalkeeper coach Claudio Taffarel, a close ally of current number one Alisson.

Considering the lack of upheaval in playing personnel, that all represents a lot of unknowns even if, to date, supporters have been utterly behind their new regime.

“Only positives,” said Slot. “What you hear is that they sing my name, but when I’m in the city or I have stayed for a while in the hotel, those people and also the ones at AXA (training ground) have been really nice to me.

“But it’s mostly like this if you become a head coach: People are always nice to you, especially if you haven’t lost yet!”