Liverpool’s pre-season has been full of recent signings and attention-grabbing tweaks, and with solely 270 minutes of pleasant motion earlier than the season opener, right here’s what we’ve realized up to now.
Liverpool’s pre-season ventures have taken them to Preston and Asia up to now, with a return to Anfield and a visit to Wembley nonetheless to come back forward of the Premier League opener on August 15.
Arne Slot has used the depth of his squad up to now and we will anticipate to see him push gamers nearer to the 90-minute mark with Bournemouth‘s go to on the opening day looming.
With new signings and promising children concerned so far, listed below are eight issues we have now realized from pre-season to this point.
Don Low cost Dominik Szoboszlai from the XI
Florian Wirtz‘s signing triggered debate over what function Dominik Szoboszlai may anticipate within the coming season, along with his place within the XI seen as underneath menace.
However it may be straightforward to neglect the industrious, soiled work that the Hungarian completes alongside his time on the ball – snuffing out counter-attacks and tirelessly protecting the bottom.
He affords what Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister don’t and was key to Liverpool’s title success, and he’s proven up to now this summer season that that has not modified.
The added competitors for locations should do his recreation no hurt, although.
Jeremie Frimpong quick and versatile on the fitting
There’s definitely extra to Jeremie Frimpong‘s recreation than his tempo, however it’s eye-catching when he will get the motors operating and propels down the flank – few will have the ability to catch him.
We now have seen him at right-back and on the fitting wing up to now, an anticipated function and one he might be tasked with all through the season – versatility that we all know appealed to Slot.
His cross for Trey Nyoni‘s purpose towards Yokohama provided an thrilling glimpse at what’s to come back, however his battle with Conor Bradley for the beginning place might be one to observe.
Liverpool’s full-backs slender and excessive
Pre-season all the time poses an fascinating time for any tactical tweaks and modifications, and Liverpool’s funding of their full-back division will make for modifications.
What we have now seen up to now is that in possession the full-backs sit contained in the wingers however are positioned greater when the group are in possession, enabling them to cowl the half areas.
This has seen, towards Yokohama, for instance, Ryan Gravenberch drop between the centre-backs in a transfer we noticed on the backend of final season.
With Liverpool’s artistic hub now not coming predominantly from Trent Alexander-Arnold, we are going to see overlapping runs from the brand new dynamic full-backs and threats from all angles and positions.
Early Hugo Ekitike indicators are promising
We now have solely seen coaching glimpses and 45 minutes of pleasant motion, however it has made for encouraging viewing relating to Ekitike’s prospects at Liverpool.
He seemed bodily succesful and comfy on the ball, displaying optimistic early connections along with his new teammates – there’s not rather more you possibly can ask for this early on.
Will probably be intriguing to see how rapidly he can set up himself within the XI, particularly if Liverpool pull of their transfer for Alexander Isak.
For now, there may be loads of promise relating to the brand new No. 22.
Rio Ngumoha a critical contender for left-wing choice
It’s exhausting to fathom that Rio Ngumoha continues to be solely 16; he performs with the fearlessness and confidence of a seasoned skilled.
He has been a revelation and whereas Slot has underlined that he might want to discover “consistency” to determine himself as a senior participant, he’s proven he may be an choice on the left.
If Luis Diaz is just not straight changed, his pathway into the group seems attainable, and there’s no purpose why we must always not see {the teenager} relied upon all through the season.
A brand new centre-back have to be signed
With Joe Gomez despatched dwelling early from the tour with an Achilles harm, it underlined how precarious the membership’s centre-back ranks are.
Because it stands, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the one two match senior choices after Jarell Quansah signed for Bayer Leverkusen – it’s left Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo filling the gaps up to now.
It’s removed from best, as we all know all too properly how rapidly one or two accidents can drive the unlikeliest of mixtures within the coronary heart of defence, there’s no want for a repeat.
There’s confidence the membership will make investments, with Marc Guehi remaining the main candidate, however the sooner the higher.
Too open on the counter-attack
You possibly can solely learn a lot into pre-season with sure gamers lacking and others in positions they’re unlikely to characteristic in shifting ahead, however how open Liverpool had been on the counter-attack was not misplaced on Slot.
“We bought counter-attacked an excessive amount of,” he stated after the defeat in Hong Kong, including, “we had been a bit too open every so often on the counter-attack.”
Milan discovered loads of pleasure as soon as they turned the ball over, exposing Liverpool’s excessive full-backs and displaying the Reds weren’t successfully set as much as cease them.
There is no such thing as a doubt this might be labored on within the weeks to come back as Slot is not going to settle for it being that straightforward for the opposition to get a shot on purpose.
Florian Wirtz is a game-changer
The £116 million deal left little doubt over how game-changing Wirtz might be for Liverpool, however what we’ve seen up to now suggests the membership have landed themselves a diamond.
What has shone in his outings up to now is how calm he’s on the ball, that he not often appears to really feel underneath strain and every transfer or cross of the ball is delivered with intent and high quality.
Liverpool’s No. 7 might be a delight to observe this season and also you sense these round him will solely be higher served by his presence.
