The fixture list could seem inspired by Arne Slot’s wishlist. After the player who has eluded him so far this summer, comes the one who got away last year. After a game against a team weakened by the absence of a Liverpool target, comes a meeting with a side strengthened by the player Slot hoped to make his first signing.
There was no Alexander Isak for Newcastle on Monday. On Sunday, though, Martin Zubimendi will finally make it to Anfield; but in the colours of Arsenal. Without reaching Merseyside, Zubimendi contrived to contribute to Liverpool’s 20th league title. His was the U-turn that set Liverpool on the road to glory; Slot had already thought of reinventing Ryan Gravenberch as a No 6, asked him to return to pre-season training early, and trialled him in a deeper role on the tour of the United States.
