Arne Slot explains why Liverpool played with unusual formation in friendly win against Real Betis

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool are unlikely to play a formation without a natural striker again despite such a system working in their 1-0 win against Real Betis in pre-season.

The Reds began life under Slot with a victory in Pittsburgh as part of their summer tour of the USA, with the Dutchman lining his new side up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Regular strikers Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are still on holiday after featuring at Copa America and Euro 2024 respectively this summer, while Diogo Jota has only just reconvened with his Liverpool teammates for pre-season training. Young forward Jayden Danns is also nursing an injury and is not available for selection.

As a result, Slot was forced to get creative with his lineup to take on Betis. Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored the game's only goal, and Harvey Elliott began up front but dropped into their usual attacking midfield roles, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho coming in off the flanks. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo started in central midfield.

Speaking to the press post-match, Slot claimed he deployed this system because of the limited options available to him at present.

"During the season you will see us play with a real striker, but at this moment we have no one available," he said.

"Then with Dom and Harvey, we've got two No. 10s, so we put them in the position they will play during the season as well. That was one of the reasons why we played with a double 10 instead of with a striker.

"That is maybe out of necessity, but for the rest, the style of play, with trying to build out from the back, that is our style.

"To control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks, that will hopefully be our style during the season.

“There were also, of course, many things we can improve, but that’s normal after two weeks."

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