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This summer, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah have been in action at the Africa Cup of Nations. Their respective nations Senegal and Egypt reached the knock-out stages, only for Salah to be knocked out with Mane advancing to the final.

The final will take place on July 19^th and, as pointed out by the Liverpool Echo recently by then, Liverpool’s first team squad will be 13 days deep into pre-season training having already participated in three friendlies.

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As for Roberto Firmino, the third explosive talent in the Reds’ attacking triumvirate who has struck fear into the hearts of Premier League defences these past couple of seasons, he was walking out onto the sacred turf of the Maracana earlier this month for Brazil’s Copa America final against Peru.

His appearance took him to 710 minutes of competitive summer action and this after a long and demanding campaign that saw the South American star play 3,406 minutes for his club.

With Mane and Salah similarly running the risk of burn-out after a gruelling 2018/19 this understandably has concerns written around it and, as a result, their introduction to the forthcoming season will need to be staggered.

Otherwise, fatigue and injuries will become a factor further down the line as an endless cycle of football begins to take its toll.

In reserve, of course, the Champions League winners have Divock Origi, whose goals in that competition have put him in the hearts of the fan-base and recently earned him a contract extension.

Liverpool were able to let Sturridge go on a free and still be in fine fettle because finally emerging from their academy after a year’s postponement through injury is a future superstar of their own making: Rhian Brewster.

The 19-year-old is one of the best to come through the ranks on Merseyside after scorching his way through the youth levels then going on to lift the Under 17s World Cup for England and winning the Golden Boot in the process.

His goal-scoring exploits and fleet-footed movement across the final third had him down as Liverpool’s next big hope; that was until a cruel and serious knee injury sustained against Manchester City under 23s set the youngster’s development back a full twelve months.

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It was at this juncture that Klopp played a blinder two-fold.

Firstly, just five months into the player’s convalescence he was awarded a five-year professional contract.

Alongside this – to further a feeling of being included and valued - Brewster was then told to commit to his lengthy rehab at Melwood, surrounded by the first team.

It was here that he struck up a firm friendship with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

In June the fit-again arch-poacher was included in Liverpool’s 23 man Champions League final squad and having proudly won a medal he then secured the eternal goodwill of all Kop devotees by recently wearing it during a haircut.

Which brings us to the present and expectation that Brewster could feature next season. After all, he's already scored three goals in two pre-season games.

It looks as though he could finally be set to impress at first-team level.

It is not inconceivable that the stoic dedication and belief from the teenager and the patience shown by Klopp will be richly rewarded in the months to come.

And in doing so it will additionally afford Mane, Salah or Firmino the opportunity to have a well-deserved rest.