By Theo Squires

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Liverpool are heading into the international break following a hat-trick of defeats, leaving supporters and pundits alike questioning whether this pause in club duties is a blessing or a curse for Arne Slot’s squad. On one hand, they’re facing a lengthy two-week wait before their next match against Manchester United, giving them ample time to stew over their recent struggles.

However, on the flip side, a change of pace and environment with their international teammates could be just what the doctor ordered as Slot and his team ponder how best to halt the reigning Premier League champions’ mini-slump. At the very least, the international break has arrived at an opportune moment for Liverpool in terms of injuries.

The Reds were dealt three potential injury blows during their defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, with Slot confirming post-match that Ibrahima Konate was taken off at Stamford Bridge due to a quad issue. Although the centre-back hasn’t yet pulled out from the France squad because of the issue, a decision will be made after further evaluation.

In other news, Wataru Endo, who was brought on late in the game at Chelsea, has withdrawn from the Japan squad to further reducing Liverpool’s numbers after suffering a muscle injury. Endo was only brought on in the 86th minute at Stamford Bridge as the Reds attempted to secure a 1-1 draw, only for Estevao to score a last-minute winner for the hosts.

Slot would later justify his decision to bring on Endo instead of Federico Chiesa, though his newly revealed injury concern only adds insult to injury following the last-gasp defeat. “If you look at the substitution we made, we brought Endo [on] who we normally bring in if we think we need a bit more control,” Slot explained to beIN Sports.

“The last 10-15 minutes were so open and we were still able maybe to create but definitely needed the control because we were already with Ryan Gravenberch playing as a centre-back. I don’t think that substitution was too defensive, the rest was because we were 1-0 down and tried to win but making offensive substitutions.”

Meanwhile, Andy Robertson was spotted hobbling away after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, sparking additional worries, though like Konate, the Scotland skipper remains in his national squad for now. The Reds have already lost Alisson Becker to a hamstring problem that’s anticipated to sideline him until after the November international break, whilst Giovanni Leoni sustained a campaign-ending ACL injury during his debut last month and has since gone under the knife.

Liverpool have also endured their share of minor knocks in recent weeks, which hasn’t helped Slot as he attempts to find solutions for his revamped squad to click into gear. Hugo Ekitike was seen limping off during the defeat to Galatasaray last week, but managed to make a substitute appearance against Chelsea, while Chiesa missed the Turkey trip due to a minor issue.

Curtis Jones was sidelined for two matches due to a muscle injury sustained before the September international break, and despite his recent return, has been left out of the England squad once again.

Liverpool are also currently missing academy stars Jayden Danns and Trey Nyoni, who both picked up injuries whilst playing for the club’s Under-21s and Under-19s respectively, further depleting Slot’s reserve numbers. Stefan Bajcetic is still absent from team training too, as he continues his recovery following a hamstring surgery in the summer.

Liverpool have also had to deal with lingering issues from pre-season, with Alexander Isak still working his way back after a disjointed summer with former club Newcastle United as he sought a move to Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley are also trying to catch up after their own injuries, with the Argentine not yet at his peak since returning from a long-term injury that ended his previous season. And Jeremie Frimpong is still finding his footing after a hamstring injury on his Premier League debut put him out of action for a month.

Last season, Liverpool’s title win was bolstered by a decent injury record that allowed Slot to maintain consistency in his squad selection. However, it has been a different story during the current campaign following a £450m transfer splurge, with injuries further muddying the waters for the Dutch gaffer.

The aforementioned foursome will at least have the chance to regain their form during international duty before returning to the AXA Training Centre later this month. All four have had a rollercoaster start to the season, frequently moving in and out of Slot’s starting line-up, with more game time and training arguably being the best remedy.

Isak, Mac Allister, Bradley and Frimpong have all been called up by their respective countries, with Sweden set to face Switzerland and Kosovo in World Cup qualifiers.

Argentina are off to the United States for friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, while Northern Ireland are set to battle Slovakia and Germany in World Cup qualifiers. The Netherlands also have World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Finland on their agenda.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s injured players have two weeks to work towards their returns before the Reds’ domestic campaign kicks back into gear. Only time will tell if Konate, Endo and Robertson will be fit for the home match against Manchester United.

Slot’s men have had a tough week, suffering defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea, and now they must wait before they can set things straight on the pitch.

However, with most of the Liverpool team jetting off for national duty in the meantime, Slot will be crossing his fingers that a change is as good as a rest. While the international break is typically a curse for club sides, this time around its timing could turn out to be a silver lining.

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