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Reds are in Pittsburgh for first game of Arne Slot era

Matt Verri8 minutes ago

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Arne Slot takes charge of his first game as Liverpool manager as the Reds meet Real Betis in Pittsburghtonight.

Now, the new era officially gets underway, with the LaLiga side no doubt offering a much sterner test.

It will be fascinating to see how Slot takes a team who enjoyed a fine season under Jurgen Klopp on.

Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai both start, but it is an inexperienced defence for the Reds.

Follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!

Liverpool vs Real Betis latest news

Kick-off time and venue: 12.30am BST; Acrisure Stadium TV channel and live stream: LCFTV Liverpool team news: Salah and Szoboszlai start Real Betis team news: Adrian starts against former club Prediction: Draw42 seconds agoEndo: Kubo can replace Salah

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has tipped international team-mate Takefusa Kubo to be the club’s long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Salah, 32, has just one year left on his contract at Anfield and has been touted for a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia should he fail to agree new terms with the Reds.

One such player rumoured to be of interest is Kubo, the Real Sociedad winger who has impressed in two seasons with the Spanish team having been labelled a prodigy when emerging out of Japan and signing for Real Madrid as a teenager.

Japanese channel ABEMA Sports Time asked Endo if there’s an international teammate he’d like to join him at Liverpool, to which he replied: “Maybe Kubo.

“They’re looking for a replacement for Mo Salah, so that’s probably going to be a real area for Liverpool to strengthen in the future.

“And if they think about who can replace him, I think it’ll be Kubo.”

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

9 minutes agoSlot confirms Robertson absence

Liverpool are without Andy Robertson for their US pre-season tour matches against Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United.

New Reds boss Arne Slot addressed the media in Pittsburgh on Thursday ahead of Friday, and confirmed that the team will not have Robertson available for the next three matche.

The experienced left-back still working his way back from an ankle issue sustained during Scotland’s short-lived campaign at Euro 2024 in Germany earlier this summer.

"He is not fully fit yet,” Slot said of Robertson, who did make the trip to America.

But we will expect him back after our tour – but he joined us over here."

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

18 minutes agoIn the building!

The Reds have arrived at the Acrisure Stadium.

27 minutes agoSalah starts for Liverpool!

Mohamed Salah in the lineup for Liverpool tonight.

It’s pretty strong in midfield and attack, but a fairly inexperienced defence.

Sepp van den Berg and Jarell Quansah the centre-back partnership, and it’s a very youthful bench.

38 minutes agoReal Betis team news

Starting XI: Adrian, Sabaly, Llorente, Mendy, Perraud, Altimira, William, Fornals, Fekir, Juanmi, Marcos

43 minutes agoLiverpool team news

Starting XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van den Berg, Tsimikas; Endo, Jones, Szoboszlai; Salah, Carvalho, Elliott.

now.

We’ll have that with you in the next couple of minutes, hopefully.

1 hour agoSlot offers transfer update

Arne Slot has admitted that he would be “surprised” if the club did not make new signings this summer.

The Reds have yet to conclude any incoming transfer business to kick off a new era under Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

Asked during a press conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday how busy he expects Liverpool to be in his first window at the helm, Slot replied: “I think I said before that the first aim is to work with these players.

“Of course it's a disadvantage that many of them are not here yet, I mean the players that are already under contract.

“The positive about that is that it's an important lifeline of the club that youngsters come into the team as well.

“The standards are really high when it comes to bringing in new players because we have such a good team and such a good squad.”

He added: “It would be a surprise for all of us I think if we don't bring any player in, so that will probably happen in the end.”

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

1 hour agoStage is set!

Might want to find some binoculars if you’re sat back there...

1 hour agoStandard Sport prediction

Both teams will want to gently ramp up their preparations as their tours begin.

A swell of absent players can be expected to impact Liverpool’s performances - it would be unfair to expect Arne Slot’s side to hit top form this early in the summer.

A 1-1 draw.

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