Summer Days Drifting Away
We still have a couple of weeks before the summer ends and the season starts for our beloved Reds. However, we have had a chance to watch some great football this past month. I’ve loved being able to watch the Euros and Copa America this year. Though Fox putting a few of the games on Fubo TV and broadcasting a fishing tourney was…a choice.
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Star Of The Euros
I’m sure Arne Slot was also tuned in as he started up summer training sessions in preparation for Real Betis on the 26th. What he has seen has to have put a smile on his face.
Cody Gakpo has burned bright at this year’s Euros. He is currently joint top in the Golden Boot chase with 3 goals and an assist. The Dutchman has cemented himself as a must-start player on the left wing. We have seen some flashes of brilliance in his play for Liverpool, but Klopp played him mostly through the middle. The Netherlands advanced to the competition’s semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Türkiye and will face England on Wednesday. Arne might have a headache in tying down that left attacking position because another player has shone this summer.
Copa Standouts
Luis Diaz and Colombia have been partying all summer. They advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-0 hammering of Panama. Luis Diaz scored his second goal of the competition and has been at his best harrying defenders and opening up space for his fellow attackers to punish their opponents. There seems to be a return to that flair of play that we saw wear out towards the end of last season.
Diaz’s revival paired with the resurgence of Gakpo means there will be a headache come opening weekend’s team selection. Either name on the lineup sheet will be exciting, so I count it as a good thing. Colombia next faces Uruguay and another Red who has found his form.
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Darwin Nunez has faced some of the most vocal criticism and abuse for the ultimate result of the Klopp Farewell Tour. His fiery performances petered out as it seemed he faced a crisis of confidence. In the realm of social media, there wasn’t a lot held back. And to our detriment, it seemed to be that he was going to turn away from the team and club. He scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions last year. That is a wild stat line for a player “struggling to find their form”.
This summer for Uruguay, Nunez seems revitalized. He tied the Uruguayan National team record of a goal in seven straight games and has been clinical for the most part in the Copa. With two goals to his name in the tournament, he looks to be enjoying the game again. They defeated Brazil in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals so we will see that fire continue.
Under-The-Radar Summer Stunners
Diaz, Gakpo, and Nunez aren’t the only Reds who have been part of the summer competitions. Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the clinching penalty in the shootout against Switzerland to send England on to the semis. Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina are into the semi-finals as well with a couple of assists to his name. Virgil van Dijk is anchoring the Dutch squad in their run to the final four, as solid as always.
All this to say this summer has seen the days drifting away bringing us closer to the start of pre-season and finally a look behind the curtain at whatever Arne Slot is cooking up. He won’t be short of ingredients.
