Liverpool power rankings as Mohamed Salah makes contract point and Ryan Gravenberch climbs

Liverpool has reached the first international break of the season with a spotless Premier League record. Arne Slot has played three, won three and conceded zero, and the pecking order of his squad is starting to take shape.

A resounding 3-0 win at Old Trafford was the most impressive of the bunch so far, even if it said just as much about the current state of Manchester United. Mohamed Salah had a hand in all three goals, scoring one and assisting two for Luis Diaz.

After the game, Salah spoke about his contract situation, admitting that he has still not been approached over a new deal at Anfield. With each new elite performance, the Egyptian makes his point with greater strength.

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After our power rankings from week two, who have been the biggest movers of week three? In truth, the whole squad has started impressively, but here's how things stand after Gameweek 3.

Liverpool power rankings - Week 3 1. Mohmed Salah (+/- 0)

No change for Mohamed Salah, who sits pretty at the top of the power rankings for the third consecutive week. That underlines the electric start he has made to the season.

Six goal contributions in three games is good even for Salah's standards. And his timing could hardly be better — not only is he proving the contract point, but also that he can continue to be a key performer in a new system under a new coach.

Arne Slot has not ripped up the Jurgen Klopp playbook, but it's still a change for Salah. At 32, you'd have been forgiven for wondering how he might adapt before the campaign got underway.

But he has wasted no time in answering that question. He remains, with less of a shadow of a doubt than ever, Liverpool's most important player.

2. Luis Diaz (+2)

3. Trent Alexander-Arnold (-1)

4. Ryan Gravenberch (+2)

It's been a rapid ascent up the power rankings so far this season for Ryan Gravenberch. Not many would have even expected him to start the campaign for Liverpool, after an unassuming debut year under Klopp, but he is thriving under compatriot Slot.

He's had his share of fortune, with the collapsed move for Martin Zubimendi allowing him to keep his place as part of the double pivot in Liverpool's midfield. But Gravenberch is seizing the opportunity with both hands, and put in his best performance of the season by far at Old Trafford.

This was set up as his biggest test, where Liverpool would get a real idea of whether he can hack it in the number six role against tougher teams. Manchester United did not really live up to its billing, but Gravenberch nonetheless excelled, running rings around the old foe.

Apart from Salah, only Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain ahead of him in the power rankings, a state of affairs few would have predicted before a ball was kicked. Diaz bagged a brace against Manchester United, showing signs of finally adding the end product that will make him elite, while Alexander-Arnold kept a third straight clean sheet and was only denied a goal by a tight VAR offside call.

5. Virgil van Dijk (+/- 0)

6. Diogo Jota (-3)

7. Dominik Szoboszlai (+1)

There was some harsh criticism for Dominik Szoboszlai on Sky Sports after he took far too long to get a shot away against Manchester United, spurning the chance to make it 4-0. In general, however, he has enjoyed a productive start to the campaign, one which he extended at Old Trafford.

Despite heavy competition, most notably from Harvey Elliott, he has made the more advanced midfield role his own. Szoboszlai has been forming some impressive triangles with Salah and Alexander-Arnold, and popped up more on the left side against United.

Coming in from that flank, he did well to duck out of the way for Liverpool's opening goal, allowing Diaz to head home. When Premier League football returns, Szoboszlai's position will be safe.

The same is also likely true of Diogo Jota, although the forward is a faller this week. He was the quietest of the Liverpool front line by a distance, and will know that Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are waiting eagerly in the wings.

8. Alexis Mac Allister (+1)

9. Alisson (-2)

10. Ibrahima Konate (- 1)

11. Andy Robertson (+/- 0)

12. Cody Gakpo (+/- 0)

The defenders and goalkeeper above Gakpo have only really fallen by virtue of having very little to do. Alisson was impressive when called upon again, and Ibrahima Konate looks to have secured his place above Jarell Quansah, while Andy Robertson had another solid if unspectacular outing.

But Gakpo is one of those on the wrong end of the good attacking performances from others. Tipped to thrive under Slot after an excellent Euro 2024 campaign, he has struggled to get much of a look-in so far, and hasn't really made a compelling case when introduced off the bench.

It's a long old season, and Gakpo will get chances to shine. But it's a slower start to the campaign than he might have liked.

13. Conor Bradley (+4)

14. Harvey Elliott (- 1)

15. Darwin Nunez (- 1)

16. Jarell Quansah (+/- 0)

17. Curtis Jones (-2)

Curtis Jones spoke with such enthusiasm about the start of the Slot reign. But he has been unable to capitalize on his long pre-season, with injury striking at a hugely inopportune time.

The midfielder was left on the bench for the opener against Ipswich Town anyway, but might at least have been competing with Gravenberch for a role in that midfield two. Instead, he has watched his teammate soar up the pecking order while he is in the familiar surroundings of the treatment room.

It must be hugely frustrating for Jones, who will hope to be fit and ready to challenge after the international break. But when he does return, his battle is that little bit more uphill than it might have been.

Above him in the rankings, the biggest mover is Conor Bradley, who made it off the bench for the third game running. He's been the most frequently used substitute, which sees him rise above the likes of Elliott, Nunez and Quansah.

18. Kostas Tsimikas (+/- 0)

19. Wataru Endo (+/- 0)

20. Joe Gomez (+/- 0)