Two players give Liverpool boost as Arne Slot faces familiar problem

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool face another testing post-October international break examination but the questions are now different for Arne SlotHistory is repeating for Arne Slot this month. The perception, though, could hardly be more different for the Liverpool head coach and his revamped squad.Twelve months ago, the Reds returned from the October international break to be faced with a tough run of matches many believed would prove whether or not they were the real deal after a start of the season in which Slot had won nine out of his first 10 games in charge.That Liverpool went on to negotiate a tricky period with six wins and a draw cemented their position as Premier League leaders, a summit from which they were never usurped on the way to a record-equalling 20th championship.READ MORE: Ryan Gravenberch hands Arne Slot injury concern as Liverpool man 'doesn't feel good'READ MORE: 'Completely exaggerated' - Florian Wirtz critics slammed as Man City legend defends Liverpool manThrow in a couple of impressive Champions League wins and continued progress in the League Cup - all with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker sidelined - and Slot's side silenced any lingering doubts over their credentials in the post-Jurgen Klopp era.This time around, while the immediate task is eerily similar, Liverpool go into a difficult run of seven matches until the November international break very much on the backfoot after seven consecutive wins were followed by three defeats inside a week at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.As last year, the sequence starts with a home clash against major rivals in Manchester United on Sunday and also includes another trip to London with Brentford the opponents, an Anfield meeting with Aston Villa and a showdown at a title contender in Manchester City.

Last season, a 2-2 draw in the same period at Arsenal helped maintain Liverpool's early momentum.There is also a Champions League visit to Germany to take on Eintracht Frankfurt before welcoming a heavyweight in Real Madrid, along with a League Cup clash against Premier League opposition with another meeting with Palace, this time at home.While Alisson is again likely to miss most of the upcoming chunk of games - even if Slot was reluctant to put a timeframe on the Brazilian's return when asked earlier this month - this time Giorgi Mamardashvili will step in between the sticks with Caoimhin Kelleher now soon to be in opposition.There are other injury fears. Liverpool are hopeful both Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch will be available for the weekend, but there will be concerns at Konate being released early from the France squad without playing due to a thigh injury and Gravenberch being substituted at half-time by Holland against Finland on Sunday with a minor hamstring problem.The Reds are already without teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni for the season and are also waiting to gauge Wataru Endo's fitness after the Japan skipper was ruled out of national team duty with a hamstring issue.Slot will be reliant on rotation during such an imminently intense and instructive period, which won't be helped by the Liverpool boss still striving to settle on selection preferences throughout the team following the raft of summer arrivals.There is some encouragement in Conor Bradley and Mohamed Salah having featured in only of of two possible games over the break due to suspension and being rested respectively, while Liverpool's Dutch contingent and Andy Robertson all concluded their international commitments at the weekend.Indeed, that only Hungary duo Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez and Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister are left to conclude their latest national team duty after Monday night suggests the Reds will have sufficient time to rest and prepare for Sunday's showdown with United.It is necessary.

As with last year, the next few weeks will go a long way to shaping just what is - and isn't - possible for Liverpool over the remainder of the season.