Arne Slot responds as Liverpool lose to Preston in pre-season friendly

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Evening Standard

·20 July 2024

Arne Slot responds as Liverpool lose to Preston in pre-season friendly

Robbie Brady’s brilliant goal settles game

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is looking at the positives after overseeing his first game in charge of the club.

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The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Championship side Preston in a behind-closed-doors friendly, with Robbie Brady’s fine strike proving the only goal of the game.

Slot used a different lineup in each half, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai being among the starters from the off and Stefan Bajcetic appearing after the break.

Salah, Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley all went close in the first-half before Brady’s brilliant strike from distance after Liverpool were caught out playing from the back.

Slot’s side could not respond after the interval but the Dutchman is looking far beyond the result, as is natural at this stage of pre-season.

“After two weeks of tough training sessions it’s important to play a game as well,” he said.

“The most important thing is that everybody was fit before the game and they stayed fit during the game as well.

Liverpool were beaten by Preston in a pre-season friendly

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

“So, it’s been a good two weeks. Unfortunately the result today was not what we wanted, but they stayed fit, many of them got minutes [and] also a lot of young players got a few minutes so that was a good thing.”

Liverpool start their tour of the USA next week when they face Real Betis in Pittsburgh before eye-catching games against Arsenal and Manchester United.

They then play Sevilla at home before their Premier League campaign begins away at Ipswich on August 17.