Liverpool preseason tour: How will Arne Slot fair in his first test as Reds manager?

New Delhi: Liverpool will head to the USA for the first time since 2019 with a new manager after Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp. Slot has taken over and trained his side for only a fortnight and will head with the team to Pittsburg, their first stop on a three-city tour. The Reds will appear with quite a few of their key players missing after participation in the summer international tournaments.

The big names, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz, will still be on post-season rest as the team crosses the Atlantic. It has been reported that Alisson and Jota will join the team later in the tour. This tournament is mostly for young and upcoming players to impress the new coaching staff.

Slot, though, has admitted he would have liked the season to start without the Euros or Copa America. The Reds will start their tour in the USA with their first game against Real Betis in Pittsburgh on Friday. They will then move to Philadelphia to face Arsenal before moving to Columbia, South Carolina, where they will face Manchester United. Being without his star players on the tour will give an insight into how Slot’s tenure will look and what style the Dutch manager will take.

Change in Arne Slot’s style

While Klopp’s and Slot’s styles share similarities, especially in the tactical area, some differences have been noted in the training sessions. The much-dreaded lactate test was missing at the start of pre-season, though Slot and his team have something equally gruelling prepared to be introduced for the same purpose. The players were also spotted sprinting in short bursts while receiving and then throwing a large, heavy-weighted ball away during the training.

The 45-year-old had already mentioned during his official unveiling that there will be differences in his approach to the team. There will be an obvious change for Liverpool’s full-backs to have different roles, and the players have the liberty to move positions when the team is in possession. He mentioned that the formations could be 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, or “we build up with three.” He further detailed his tactics and said the team needs to be aggressive when they are not in possession of the ball and when there is little freedom.

Stefan Bajcetic’s road to return

Stefan Bajcetic will be looking for a fresh start for himself at the club. After an impressive breakthrough a couple of seasons ago, the talented midfielder has been marred by injuries. In the last season, he had only one start, in the club’s group game against Linz, after having just recovered from a groin issue, only to suffer a calf injury. This saw him out of action again during the final few months of the 2022-23 season. He was again ruled out for seven months due to back problems.

However, the 19-year-old has had an impressive pre-season this season, and Liverpool will hope that Bajcetic retains his fitness throughout the season. The Central midfield is an area where major changes could occur as the new coach takes the reins. This could be Bajcetic’s chance to make a strong case for himself in an already competitive field.

Can Vitezslav Jaros continue his form?

With Alisson enjoying a post-Copa America break, Slot will evaluate who his backup shot-stopper options are during these three matches. Caoimhín Kelleher can be a primary choice in the USA, but having made 26 first-team appearances, it is yet to see if he’ll be prepared to be the no.2 preference. Kelleher has admitted that his next step will be to be the No.1 choice, irrespective of the club he represents. The experienced Adrian, too, chose to rejoin Betis, his first professional club, on a free transfer.

This leaves an opening for Vitezslav Jaros, who was part of the Czech Republic’s squad for the European Championship. After an impressive loan spell at Sturm Graz in the previous season, Liverpool have considered the 23-year-old as part of their senior goalkeeping pool. US tour could be his proving ground for where he is going next.

Will Ben Doak’s strength help Liverpool become strong?

KIRKBY, ENGLAND – JULY 19: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Ben Doak of Liverpool during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Preston North End at AXA Training Centre on July 19, 2024 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Every player arriving in the USA is perfectly fit. Ben Doak, who was on the sidelines for most of last year after a knee injury, has looked the strongest. He is likely to make a strong impression when he appears on the US pitch. On his debut against Aston Villa, which Liverpool won 3-1, Doak became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League.

It will be interesting to see how he combines his newly built strength and his pace. It could prove to be a winning combination for the player and the 18-year-old will hope to secure his place in the squad. It will be interesting to see how Slot plays out the Forward and uses him in these three matches.

No New faces in the squad

Liverpool has yet to make any signings, though there is still around a month left until the summer transfer window ends. With big names missing, quite a few fans will be disappointed with the squad taking the field. Liverpool’s new sporting director claimed that the club will try to be opportunistic with its transfer strategy. The viewpoint is that the club doesn’t need to address any short-term significant issues in its squad.

However, the Reds would have been interested in improving their central defence, which is why they were looking at someone like Leny Yoro, who ultimately ended up at Manchester United. Newcastle had offered Anthony Gordon but there was never any update on the situation. The club is yet to resolve long-term futures of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah who are all entering their final year of their current contract.

 As Liverpool prepare to play for the first time in the US soil since 2019, here’s a look at some of the major factors that could affect the game.  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today