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Arne Slot's tactical twists gets him his first win against Real Betis in club friendlies
Arne Slot's tactical ingenuity was on full display as Liverpool secured a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in a pre-season clash, despite being without any natural strikers.
The match, held in Pittsburgh as part of Liverpool's summer tour of the USA, showcased Slot's ability to adapt under challenging circumstances.
With regular forwards Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo unavailable, having not yet returned from their summer commitments at Copa America and Euro 2024 respectively, Slot had to devise an unconventional approach.
Additionally, Diogo Jota had only recently rejoined the squad for pre-season training, and young forward Jayden Danns was sidelined due to injury.
In response, Slot deployed a 4-4-2 formation, utilizing Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott in forward roles, though they are primarily attacking midfielders.
Szoboszlai, who netted the game’s solitary goal, and Elliott operated in advanced positions but frequently dropped back into their usual midfield roles.
Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho were stationed on the wings, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo took up central midfield positions.
Post-match, Slot explained his tactical decision, emphasizing that the formation was a temporary solution necessitated by the unavailability of his main strikers.
"During the season, you will see us play with a real striker," Slot stated. "At this moment, we have no one available, so we utilized Dominik and Harvey in the No. 10 roles, which will be their positions during the season."
Slot's approach not only managed to secure a win but also demonstrated Liverpool’s adaptability and his tactical flexibility.
"Our style of play will involve building from the back and controlling the game to minimize counter-attacks," Slot added. "We still have areas to improve, but that's expected after only two weeks of preparation."
Liverpool’s victory against Betis, achieved without their key forwards, underscores Slot’s resourcefulness and sets a positive tone as the team continues their pre-season preparations.
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