Liverpool’s preseason was full of new signing sessions and striking tweaks, and with only 270 minutes of friendly action before the season opener, here is what we have learned so far.
The pre-season companies of Liverpool have brought them to Preston and Asia so far, with a return to Anfield and a trip to Wembley still for the Premier League opener on August 15.
Arne Slot has used the depth of his team so far and we can expect players closer to the 90 minutes with Bournemouth’s visit on the opening day.
With new signing sessions and promising young people involved so far, there are eight things that we have learned from the preseason to date.
Don discount Dominik Szoboszlai of the XI
The signing debate of Florian Wirtz caused a debate about what role Dominik Szoboszlai could expect the coming season, with his place in the XI seen as under threat.
But it can be easy to forget the diligent, dirty work that the Hungarian, in addition to his time, is sniffing on the ball to attacks and cover the soil tirelessly.
He offers what Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister do not do and was the key to Liverpool’s success, and he has shown this summer so far that that has not changed.
However, the added competition for places should not hurt his game.
Jeremie Frimpong quickly and versatile on the right
The game of Jeremie Frimpong is certainly more than his pace, but it is striking when he gets running the engines and the flank propels will be able to catch him.
We have seen him right back and on the right wing so far, an expected role and one that he will get throughout the season-multilateral that we know they will appeal to.
His cross for Trey Nyoni’s goal against Yokohama offered an exciting glimpse what is coming, but his fight with Conor Bradley before the starting position will be one to watch.
Liverpool’s full-backs narrow and high
Pre-season is always an interesting time for tactical adjustments and changes, and the investment of Liverpool in their full-back department will make changes.
What we have seen so far is that in possession the full-backs are in the wing players, but are placed higher when the team is in possession, so that they can cover half the spaces.
Against Yokohama, for example Ryan Gravenberch has seen between the center-backs in a movement that we saw in the backend of last season.
With the creative hub of Liverpool, which no longer mainly comes from Trent Alexander-Arnold, we will see overlapping runs of the new dynamic full-backs and threats from all corners and positions.
Early Hugo Ekitike signs are promising
We have only seen a glimpse of a glimpse and 45 minutes of friendly action, but it has caused to encourage visits when it comes to Ekitike’s prospects in Liverpool.
He looked physically capable and comfortable on the ball and showed positive early connections with his new teammates – there is not much more that you can ask early here.
It will be intriguing to see how quickly he can settle in the XI, especially if Liverpool draws their move for Alexander Isak.
For now there is a lot of promise when it comes to the new No. 22.
Rio Ngumoha a serious competition for the left option
It is difficult to understand that Rio Ngumoha is still only 16; He plays with the fearlessness and trust of a seasoned professional.
He has been a revelation and although Slot has underlined that he must find ‘consistency’ to settle as a senior player, he has demonstrated that he can be an option on the left.
If Luis Diaz is not immediately replaced, his path to the team seems feasible and there is no reason why we would not see the teenager familiar throughout the season.
A new center-back must be signed
With Joe Gomez sent home early from the Tour with an Achilles injury, it underlined how precarious the center-back ranks of the club are.
As it looks now, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are the only two fit senior options after Jarell Quansah is signed for Bayer Leverkusen – It is Left Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo that filled the gaps so far.
It is far from ideal, because we know all too well how quickly one or two injuries can force the most unlikely combinations in the heart of the defense, no repetition is needed.
There is trust that the club will invest, where Marc Guehi will remain the leading candidate, but the sooner the better.
Too open on the counterattack
You can only read so much in the preseason, where certain players are missing and others in positions that they will probably not appear when improving, but how open Liverpool was on the counterattack was not lost.
“We attacked too much,” he said after the defeat in Hong Kong, and added: “We were a bit too open occasionally on the counterattack.”
Milan found a lot of joy when they turned the ball, exposed the high full-backs of Liverpool and demonstrate that the Reds were not effectively set to stop them.
There is no doubt that this will be worked on in the coming weeks, because Slot will not accept that it is so easy for the opposition to get a shot at goal.
Florian Wirtz is a game changer
The £ 116 million deal had little doubt about how game-changing Wirtz will be for Liverpool, but what we have seen so far suggests that the club has landed a diamond.
What has so far shown in his trips is how calm he is on the ball, that he rarely seems to feel under pressure and every movement or pass of the ball is supplied with intention and quality.
Liverpool’s no. 7 will be a pleasure to view this season and you feel that the people around him are only better served by his presence.
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