Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo pre-season return dates confirmed by Liverpool

Liverpool has confirmed that Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo will begin their pre-season regimens tomorrow. It signals the next phase of preparations for Arne Slot.

For the most part, Slot has so far been working with youngsters and peripheral players, with so many senior stars away on international commitments. The return of Salah signals the arrival of a genuine superstar, and the new head coach will be keen to impart his ideas, especially with a contract discussion coming up.

Likewise, Endo is one of the veterans of the squad, and will bring a wealth of experience. That will be handy in training, but also once matches begin on the US tour, with both expected to form part of the travelling party.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Karim Adeyemi deal, Joao Neves talks, Chelsea 'fury' over Rio Ngumoha

READ MORE: Liverpool target Leny Yoro offers brilliantly brutal response to Man Utd's transfer bid

The first stage for Salah and Endo will be individual testing. They are expected to link up with their teammates later in the week, the club has confirmed.

Nor will it be a stop-start return for the duo. There had been speculation that both could be called up for the Olympic Games in Paris, which run very close to the start of the Premier League season, but ultimately it was decided that neither would be leaving Liverpool.

As they will enjoy more lengthy pre-seasons than their colleagues at the Copa America and Euro 2024, Endo and Salah look like reasonable bets to start the season under Slot. The Egyptian would have expected that status anyway, but the base of the midfield is a more interesting position.

Ultimately, Slot will need to decide whether he trusts Endo as the senior specialist in that role, or whether he wants to dip into the transfer market. There's also the option of continuing with Alexis Mac Allister as the number six, although with Argentina still going strong in the Copa America, it will be a while before he gets to see him in action.

If Slot did decide to replace Endo, there would then be a question over who exactly should be targeted. There have been links to youngster Joao Neves, but there is a shortage of obviously world-class yet attainable options on the market.

Liverpool.com says: These decisions will only start to become clear once Slot has had a chance to properly assess his squad. As such, these pre-season returns are vital in getting a more complete transfer picture.

Salah and Endo are the next two pieces of the puzzle, and both will be hoping to make an immediate impression on the new head coach. In their own ways, they are facing uncertain long-term Liverpool futures, and Slot will begin his assessment right away.