Liverpool kicked off their pre-season friendlies in the United States under the guidance of new head coach Arne Slot. After almost three weeks of training, the Reds took to the field for their first official friendly and emerged as 1-0 winners against Real Betis.
Despite not putting on the most comprehensive display, it was a promising night for Liverpool in Pittsburgh. Dominik Szoboszlai scored the only goal of the game, with 23 different players featuring in the match at Acrisure Stadium. Slot led his squad out for the first time since joining the club as head coach earlier in the summer, and there was a sense of focus and excitement among the players.
The friendly match drew a crowd of over 40,000 supporters, including Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon. Gordon, who has the final say when it comes to spending, was seen engaging in discussions with chief executive Billy Hogan. This suggests that the club’s hierarchy is actively involved in the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.
In the absence of several key players, Slot named his strongest possible side for the friendly. The starting lineup included the likes of Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, and Harvey Elliott. On the other side, Real Betis featured some familiar faces, including former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian and former transfer target Nabil Fekir, who now captains the Spanish club.
The game got off to a slow start for both sides, and a drinks break on the half-hour mark led to Curtis Jones being substituted due to injury. This provided an opportunity for 17-year-old Trey Nyoni to showcase his skills as he came on as a replacement. During the break, Slot was seen having a one-to-one conversation with Szoboszlai, and shortly after the restart, the Hungarian midfielder scored the winning goal.
Nyoni made a strong impression after coming off the bench, while other young players such as Fabio Carvalho, Ben Doak, Sepp van den Berg, and Conor Bradley also looked to make an impact. Carvalho, in particular, received instructions from new assistant coach John Heitinga, who recently joined Liverpool after his time at West Ham.
On the sidelines, Slot appeared relaxed as he sat alongside his staff on the bench. However, he is aware that the Premier League season will bring tougher challenges. The friendly against Arsenal on Wednesday night in Philadelphia will provide another opportunity for the team to test their mettle.
This Is Anfield will provide live coverage of the Liverpool-Arsenal clash, as well as pre and post-match analysis. Fans can also stay updated by downloading the This is Anfield app, which offers lineups, live coverage, and reaction to all the games.