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By Martin Graham | 27th Jul 2024
Arne Slot secured his first victory as Liverpool manager with a 1-0 win over Real Betis, thanks to a superb goal from Dominik Szoboszlai in Pittsburgh. This marks the beginning of the post-Jurgen Klopp era, with the Reds previously losing 1-0 to Preston in a closed-door friendly earlier this month.
The Hungarian midfielder scored the game’s only goal in the 34th minute, converting Mohamed Salah’s pass. Betis striker Juanmi squandered two opportunities in front of a crowd of 42,679. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones left the field with an injury after half an hour, and Slot commented that it was too early to assess the severity of the injury.
Liverpool’s next matches are against Arsenal in Philadelphia on Thursday and Manchester United in Columbia on Sunday, August 4.
New style under Slot
Slot, succeeding Klopp who managed the team for nine years, introduced a more measured style compared to Klopp’s high-intensity approach. Liverpool’s play featured a fluid 4-2-4 formation without a traditional striker, influenced by Johan Cruyff’s philosophy often favored by Dutch coaches.
The Dutch manager, actively directing from the technical area, utilized Harvey Elliot and Szoboszlai as alternating attacking midfielders in the number 10 role. Slot explained the absence of a striker was due to Darwin Nunez’s unavailability, but expressed that the team would usually feature a striker during the season.
Slot emphasized a possession-based strategy to control the game and avoid constant counter-attacks, acknowledging there were areas for improvement typical after only two weeks of preparation.
Standout performances and youth involvement
Defender Conor Bradley was a standout, linking effectively with Salah on the right wing and creating several key opportunities. Fabio Carvalho, back from a loan spell at Hull City, showed determination with several dangerous plays.
In the second half, a number of young players were introduced, disrupting the rhythm but providing valuable experience. Notably, 17-year-old Trey Nyoni, who replaced the injured Jones, controlled the midfield well and created a significant chance for Harvey Blair.
This youthful squad was a result of Liverpool’s commitment to giving players who participated in Euro 2024 and Copa America the full three-week holiday recommended by FIFPro, contrasting with many rivals who shortened this break. However, Ibrahima Konaté and Diogo Jota will return early due to minimal involvement with their national teams.
Jones’ injury update
Before the match, Curtis Jones had expressed his enthusiasm for Slot’s approach but was forced off with an injury in the 28th minute. Slot downplayed concerns about the injury, stating it was too early to determine its severity and suggesting Jones might have continued playing if necessary.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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