Liverpool 1-0 Real Betis: Double false nines as Nyoni shines

Dominik Szoboszlai got the only goal as Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour with a victory in Pittsburgh.

Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour of the United States with a 1-0 win over Real Betis in Pittsburgh.

Dominik Szoboszlai grabbed the only goal of the match, sweeping home emphatically after a swift one-two with Mohamed Salah in the 34th minute.

That was the standout moment of an otherwise scrappy game short on big chances but ensured the Arne Slot era got under way with a victory.

As for the manager, he was left to reflect on a useful run-out in terms of sharpness, though he will be sweating on Curtis Jones' fitness after the midfielder was withdrawn early in the first half.

Who played?

Liverpool: Kelleher (Jaros, 46); Bradley (Stephenson, 63), Quansah (Phillips, 63), Van den Berg (Chambers, 63), Tsimikas (Beck, 63); Salah (Doak, 63), Endo (Morton, 46), Jones (Nyoni, 30 [Koumas, 72]), Carvalho (Gordon, 63); Elliott (Bajcetic, 63), Szoboszlai (Blair, 63).

Unused subs: Nallo.

James McConnell missed out through a minor injury.

Double false nines!?

In the analysis that followed confirmation of his appointment as Jurgen Klopp's successor, Slot's tactical flexibility was regularly highlighted as one of his biggest strengths.

But few would have expected his first game in charge to highlight it to this extent, with the Dutchman naming Harvey Elliott and Szoboszlai as an unlikely pair of false nines in his starting XI.