Arne Slot’s Inauspicious Start at Liverpool
Liverpool’s pre-season preparations got off to a rocky start under new manager Arne Slot, as they suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Championship side Preston North End in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday. Despite fielding a strong lineup featuring stars like Mohamed Salah and new signing Dominik Szoboszlai, the Reds were undone by a moment of brilliance from Preston’s Robbie Brady.
Two Different Lineups, Same Result
Slot opted to use two different lineups in each half, giving minutes to a total of 25 players. The first-half lineup included:
- Vitezslav Jaros (GK)
- Conor Bradley
- Nat Phillips
- Virgil van den Berg
- Kostas Tsimikas
- Curtis Jones
- Harvey Elliott
- Dominik Szoboszlai (replaced by Wataru Endo after 30 mins)
- Ben Doak
- Mohamed Salah
- Fabio Carvalho
Despite the attacking talent on display, Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut chances. Salah had a shot sail over the crossbar, while Elliott and Bradley also had attempts from outside the box.The second-half lineup featured:
- Marcelo Pitaluga (GK)
- Isaac Mabaya
- Jarell Quansah
- Rhys Williams
- Luke Chambers
- Stefan Bajcetic
- Wataru Endo
- Tyler Morton
- Melkamu Frauendorf
- Layton Stewart
- Kaide Gordon
Brady’s Moment of Magic
The game’s only goal came in the first half when Preston capitalized on a mistake by Liverpool’s defense. Robbie Brady, spotting Jaros off his line, unleashed an audacious lob from around 40 yards out that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net. It was a stunning strike that left the Reds stunned and proved to be the difference between the two sides.
| Scorer | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Robbie Brady | First Half | 40-yard lob over Vitezslav Jaros |
Looking Ahead: USA Tour and Season Opener
Despite the disappointing result, Liverpool will now shift their focus to their upcoming pre-season tour in the United States. The Reds are set to face Real Betis in Pittsburgh, followed by high-profile friendlies against Arsenal and Manchester United. Upon returning to Europe, they will take on Sevilla as their final pre-season test.
Liverpool’s competitive season kicks off on August 17 with a trip to face newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League. Slot will be hoping to have his team firing on all cylinders by then, with the return of international stars like Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and new signing Alexis Mac Allister expected to bolster the squad.
Key Takeaways
- Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End in Arne Slot’s first game in charge
- Robbie Brady scored the winning goal with a stunning 40-yard lob
- Slot used 25 players across two different lineups in each half
- The Reds will now focus on their USA tour and season opener against Ipswich Town
As Liverpool continues their preparations for the 2024/25 season, fans will be eager to see how the team adapts to Slot’s tactics and philosophy. While the loss to Preston may be a minor setback, it’s essential to remember that pre-season results often don’t reflect a team’s true potential.
With a talented squad at his disposal and time to implement his ideas, Slot will be determined to guide Liverpool back to the top of English and European football.
