Liverpool Kick Off Pre-Season With Victory Over Real Betis

Liverpool started their pre-season tour in the United States with a 1-0 victory against Real Betis in Pittsburgh on July 27, 2024. The match, which took place at the Acrisure Stadium, marked the first official friendly under new head coach Arne Slot.

The Reds dominated the game from the start, with midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scoring the only goal of the match in the 34th minute. The Hungarian international exchanged a clever one-two with Mohamed Salah before slotting the ball into the far corner.

Slot used the match as an to see as much of his squad as possible, with 23 players taking to the pitch. However, the only concern for the new head coach was a knock suffered by midfielder Curtis Jones, who was replaced by 17–old Trey Nyoni in the first half. Nyoni impressed during his cameo, playing a role in the build-up to Szoboszlai’s goal.

The match also saw strong performances from Ben Doak and Connor Bradley, who shone in the second half. Liverpool’s held firm, with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher making a crucial save towards the end of the match to deny Iker Losada from close range.

The victory was a positive start to Liverpool’s pre-season tour, which will them take on Arsenal in Philadelphia on Wednesday before concluding the tour against Manchester United in South Carolina on Saturday.

Overall, the match provided a good workout for Slot’s side, with the young players in particular impressing. While there were sloppy moments in possession, the Reds showed promise and will look to build on this performance in their upcoming matches.

As Liverpool begin their new era under Arne Slot, fans will be hoping that this victory is a sign of things to come.