You suspect Jurgen Klopp would have preferred for Liverpool to have an opportunity to quickly build on their dramatic 2-1 win over Ajax.
But the cancellation of the weekend trip to Chelsea and an always unwelcome international break mean the German instead has plenty of time on his hands.
This week’s hiatus is not all bad news, fortunately enough, given it does at least offer Klopp the chance to delve deeper into the reasons behind what has been a slow start to the new campaign.
Here, we examine three pressing issues the Reds boss will be considering prior to his international stars returning to Kirkby.
Integrating Nunez
But for a moment of madness against Crystal Palace, Darwin Nunez would have been three games further along in his bid to adapt to new surroundings, a new tactical set-up, and new teammates.
As it is, the Uruguayan headed out to represent his country having yet to prove that he can do the job he was bought for: replacing Sadio Mane.
Nunez’s bid to do that has hardly been helped by the fact that poor results have ramped up the pressure, a fact that led Klopp to opt for the safety and familiarity of Diogo Jota up top against Ajax last time out.
However, if this season is to be a success, the manager knows he will need to get a tune out of his £85m striker as soon as possible, and the only way to do that is with regular game time.
Finding right midfield mix
The imminent easing of Liverpool’s injury crisis is another upside to this enforced break, and it is an improvement of Klopp’s options in central midfield that is sure to be most welcome.
Jordan Henderson is available again after a hamstring injury, while it is hoped that Curtis Jones’ tibial stress issue will settle before club action resumes.
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also slated for October returns and so shouldn’t be too far behind, either.
Unfortunately for the manager, this also means a new selection headache given that each of these players is returning to also compete with Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, James Milner, Arthur Melo and Fabio Carvalho for starts.
Whatever the manager decides, finding the right blend in an area of the pitch that has been the focus for so much criticism in the early stages of the season will be key to an improved run of form.
Get Salah back in the goals
In normal circumstances, four goals in nine games across all competitions thus far would represent a fine return for any winger - but this is Mohamed Salah we’re talking about.
The Egyptian’s reputation as one of the best forwards in the world owes much to the fact that he has typically scored way above that rate since joining Liverpool.
Klopp has pushed back on the idea that Salah’s role has been tweaked to make him more of a creator than a finisher this term, but it is clear to see that he has not been getting into goalscoring positions quite as frequently.
Whether that is by accident or design, it must be rectified immediately so that the Reds’ biggest threat can do what he does best on a more regular basis.
Anything else is a waste of his talents, and is unlikely to help the team as a whole show its best form.
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power 661hp @8,000rpm
Torque 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.4L / 100k
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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MATCH INFO
Burnley 0
Man City 3
Raheem Sterling 35', 49'
Ferran Torres 65'
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
EMILY%20IN%20PARIS%3A%20SEASON%203
%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Darren%20Star%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Lily%20Collins%2C%20Philippine%20Leroy-Beaulieu%2C%20Ashley%20Park%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202.75%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
