Two wins, one against title rivals Arsenal, and a buzz about the squad suggest a so-far-so-good summer for Liverpool even without a new signing.

There’s still almost a month of the transfer window left so there’s no need to panic.

A lack of activity was expected with a new manager coming in and Arne Slot remains almost unknown to most of his senior players even now.

Such are the demands on international stars that he has only just had his first training session with eight of a possible first team.

One more, Alexis Mac Allister, he has yet to meet.

Interviews with those that have been subject to Slotball – or whatever it will be called – are favourable with positivity oozing from the second stringers desperate to catch the Dutchman’s eye.

And the manager, himself, has created a decent first impression: he’s been respectful to his predecessor but is also his own man.

Not attempting to fill impossible shoes is wise, but he’s tweaked things sufficiently to have the squad eagerly anticipating a new era.

It would have been Jurgen Klopp’s 10th season in charge, but this is definitely not ‘same old, same old’ in training or preparation.

The sense of freshness is enhanced by having a completely new coaching staff, new ideas, new drills, new accents and new hope.

Among the nearly men craving for more game time, the likes of Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are hoping for breakthrough seasons.

Stefan Bajcetic, who broke through two years ago and is still only 19, will be hoping for an injury-free campaign.

Fabio Carvalho, loaned out to Hull City as too lightweight for Klopp’s heavy metal game, will want to show why Liverpool coveted him in the first place.

Joe Gomez, a spare part in England’s Euro campaign, will be even more desperate to play – and could leave if an alternative is found.

Yes, there could be a hectic finale to the window after all, with a swap between Gomez and Anthony Gordon back on the agenda.

It almost happened earlier but the clubs could not agree on the cash adjustment and Newcastle found other ways to meet the Fair Play rules.

Gomez has been a reliable, loyal servant, often overlooked, and still decent enough for an England call-up, but Gordon would be more exciting.

The ex-Evertonian would bring pace, aggression and a few goals to the front line but is there a place for him?

There are already three candidates for the leftwing berth and Cody Gakpo showed it’s his best position with an outstanding Euros there for Netherlands.

Not that Luis Diaz was a slouch for Colombia in the Copa America but he was perhaps outshone by, of all people, Darwin Nunez.

One of Slot’s biggest priorities is what to do with the often wayward but occasionally world-class Uruguayan, who seems best cutting in from the left.

Then there’s Diogo Jota who’s last two seasons have been decimated by injuries.

The Portuguese was the Reds’ most impressive attacker against Arsenal.

And Jayden Danns, the teenager who looked a future star in odd games last season, is another who could feature more prominently.

Slot has a surfeit of attacking riches with Mo Salah expected to produce a few fireworks in what is likely to be his farewell season.

He’ll be pleased to get off the mark against the Gunners after being below par last time out.

There ought to be a devastating front three from among the above-mentioned but finding the right combination eluded even Klopp.

If Slot can do it, he’ll save the club a fortune.

But there are a few stats from the previous campaign that Liverpool will not wish to repeat having been top in some unwanted areas.

They had the most losing starts, the most offsides and the highest xG, but were much worse than Man City at converting their chances.

The Reds also reached a century of offsides to which Nunez contributed 33 and Diaz 20.

Another sobering stat is that cross-city rivals Everton kept more clean sheets – 13 to 10.

One possible weakness from last season was getting caught on the break so a bit of pace in central defence wouldn’t go amiss.

Ibra Konate has also been somewhat injury-prone so a new central defender is likely high on the search list.

Jarrell Quansah’s progress was recognised by Gareth Southgate and he can expect to be more of a regular this time around.

He, too, might benefit if there was a pacy No 6 in front of him.

Liverpool always viewed the arrival of Wataru Endo as a stopgap measure and the Japanese hasn’t let them down.

But he will be 32 in January and the preference is for someone younger, quicker and who makes better use of the ball.

Already, he looks closest to the exit door having been left out against Arsenal after a poor showing against Real Betis.

And a £14m offer from Marseilles has been rebuffed.

The Reds were prepared to break the club record for Moises Caicedo last summer but were glad they didn’t.

But you can be sure the team under Michael Edwards will be working overtime to find another if Bajcetic is not considered ready.

Elliott, playing in a deeper role, was the star in the 2-1 win over the EPL runners-up with two first-half assists.

Dominik Szoboszlai played alongside him in what is a more possession-based system to Klopp’s.

Some observers have even dubbed it a more “elegant Dutch style” although hard to do given the number of changes made.

A more experienced Arsenal had the better of the second half although Liverpool were resolute in defence.

But from the evidence so far, Kopites will be quietly confident the new era is in safe hands.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.