Arne Slot may call upon Liverpool trio after intense individual training during the international break.

Remarkably, it has been just 11 days since Liverpool’s dramatic late defeat to Chelsea, though the fallout from that result — combined with the international break — has made it feel far longer. Yet despite what the calendar shows, there’s little doubt that significant work has been underway at the AXA Training Centre during that time.

While the break provided Arne Slot and his players with a much-needed pause, the Liverpool boss has likely spent most of it dissecting the three consecutive losses that have dampened morale around the club. The recent slump has prompted serious reflection, both on the team’s performances and on Slot’s early tenure — questions that will begin to find answers in the weeks ahead.

However, as Slot observed training sessions at Kirkby, he may have seen encouraging signs and potential solutions to some of Liverpool’s ongoing issues.

A number of key players — Alisson Becker, Wataru Endo, and Giovanni Leoni — missed international duty through injury, but three other senior figures also stayed behind: Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Federico Chiesa.

The trio, each returning from fitness setbacks, used the international window to focus on conditioning and recovery, following tailored programmes designed by Liverpool’s medical and performance staff. Between them, they hold 72 international caps — experience that could soon prove vital.

Gomez, once a regular for England, earned a recall last year and featured in four pre-Euro 2024 friendlies. Jones can count himself unlucky not to have been selected this time, having impressed under Lee Carsley and Thomas Tuchel, even scoring on his England debut against Greece before injury halted his progress.

Chiesa, meanwhile, remains something of an enigma. The Italian winger — owner of 51 caps — has yet to feature for his country since joining Liverpool last summer, despite appearing in all four of Italy’s matches at Euro 2024.

Given their limited club minutes — just five starts combined this season, three coming in the League Cup victory over Southampton — it’s unsurprising that they were overlooked by their national teams. Yet, with ongoing question marks surrounding Ibrahima Konaté’s form and fitness, Alexis Mac Allister’s midfield consistency, and Liverpool’s attacking rhythm, this trio could soon force their way back into contention.

Slot has been closely monitoring their progress throughout the break — and they may have just given him the answers he’s been searching for