Liverpool are set to return to action on Saturday as Arne Slot leads the Reds out for the first time in-front of a crowd.
Slot has already taken charge of a friendly match for Liverpool, but that took place behind closed doors.
Saturday’s game will be a different story, with the new head coach faced with stands full of Reds supporters for the very first time.
The Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh is the venue, with the American football arena boasting a capacity of almost 69,000. The majority of those in attendance will likely be Liverpool fans.
With anticipation building over what Slot’s Liverpool could look like, it’s set to be a big day for the first-team and academy players involved. Here’s how we think the Dutchman will line the Reds up.
Defence
It had looked likely that Caoimhin Kelleher was preparing for a move last week after not featuring during the friendly against Preston. But he’s out in the USA and we think he’ll start between the sticks.
In-front of Kelleher is likely to be a very young looking back four. Conor Bradley has looked electric in training under Slot and will hope to translate that to a game setting.
Next to Bradley will surely be his long-time academy colleague Jarell Quansah and Sepp van den Berg, who has a bit of a point to prove.
Van den Berg wants to leave Liverpool and is reportedly in talks with Hoffenheim over a move. With a place in the Reds squad still potentially up for grabs, though, he’ll want to do well here.
READ MORE: Club will keep pushing to sign Sepp van den Berg until late in August
At left-back, Andy Robertson has succumbed to injury. As a result, it looks like Kostas Tsimikas has the chance to revive his Liverpool career, starting on Saturday.
Midfield
Although there are still a couple of likely regular starters away from Slot’s midfield, the boss does have a headache selecting his three – and we think it will be a three – in Pittsburgh.
However, Curtis Jones has raved about Slot in the build-up to match and we think the Scouser is one of the first names on the teamsheet for this one.
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai shares how things are ‘different’ in training under Arne Slot
Dominik Szoboszlai should come in as well having been building his fitness during last Friday’s loss against Preston.
Harvey Elliott started that game instead of Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, but we think Slot will stick the Japan captain in from the start for some balance this time.
Attack
If Slot has options in midfield, then his attack is a little less packed. Mohamed Salah is the one, senior player Slot has available, though, and the Egyptian will be a big draw for the American crowd.
Next to Salah it’s likely to be a rather experimental front three from the head coach.
Fabio Carvalho started at the tip of it against Preston and without many other obvious options, we think the Portuguese will do so again.
Completing the attack should be Ben Doak, who really has the chance to make a case for next season. Doak has been deemed ‘amazing‘ in the lead up to the campaign and should do all he can to take his opportunity.
Liverpool’s predicted friendly XI vs Real Betis: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van den Berg, Tsimikas; Endo, Szoboszlai, Jones; Salah, Carvalho, Doak
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