Arne Slot comments underline biggest Liverpool selection challenge ahead of new season

2 weeks ago 53

Eleven days before the start of the new campaign, and perhaps the first signs of Arne Slot’s first-choice Liverpool XI emerged in Tokyo.

Throughout pre-season, the Dutchman has varied his sides, selecting teams to start and finish matches which have been a combination of star names and fringe players. But that changed against Yokohama F.Marinos, as Slot named a team that, with a few changes, could well start against Crystal Palace in next Sunday’s Community Shield.

With Alisson out, Alexis Mac Allister still recovering from injury, and Liverpool’s transfer business not yet concluded - there’s still room for a certain Swedish striker if the Reds can conclude a deal - it’s premature to name Slot’s strongest XI just yet. But there were more than a few hints as the Reds signed off their summer tour of Asia with a win.

For a start, the majority of those beginning the game played for around an hour, while the substitutes were handed just 30 minutes. As pre-season preparations step up, the extra miles in the legs are significant.

There were no huge surprises in Slot’s selection. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike made up version 1.0 of 2025/25 Liverpool.

What early assessments were there? Well, Salah and Wirtz appear to have developed an instant on-field relationship, Szoboszlai should bring more thrust from the middle this season, Ekitike’s selection made it more of a 4-2-3-1, and Bradley’s runs from deep added a new dimension to Liverpool’s attack.

The latter may be the biggest alteration from the squad bequeathed by Jurgen Klopp and that which will aim to defend Liverpool’s Premier League title.

Conor Bradley

Conor Bradley looks set to play an important role from right-back this season

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure was always going to enforce change. There’s no other right-back quite like him in world soccer, and Bradley’s more explosive runs from deep, coupled with Wirtz taking over the mantle of creator-in-chief, will invariably alter the team's make-up.

The early signs in Japan were good. Bradley created a number of openings, with the timings of his runs proving difficult for Yokohama to stop. The Northern Irishman also linked well with Salah and even took up an inside position on occasion.

There was a downside, though. From one lung-busting Bradley run forward, Yokohama netted their only goal of the game.

Caught high up the pitch and out of position at the start of the second half, Bradley left Liverpool exposed. Konate was forced to push into a right-back role, leaving a gap at the heart of defense, which Yokohama punished. Asahi Uenaka timed his run perfectly and slotted the ball into the net.

Arne Slot

Slot has to manage the change at right-back this season

It wasn’t the first time Bradley was caught out either. Kerkez had to sprint across to the far flank to try and close down a cross in the first period, which was eventually met by Dean David and forced Mamardashvili into a low, full-length sprawl.

Even Slot referenced post-match that he was disappointed with how often the team were exploited on the counter-attack.

“What I also saw in the goal we conceded and in the first half, the big chance we conceded was that we had to work harder in those moments to sprint back than we did,” said the Liverpool head coach.

It wasn’t a direct reference to Bradley - Konate’s recovery runs were also lacking at times against Yokohama - but it’s a message Liverpool’s right-back should heed.

After all, he still faces competition in the form of Jeremie Frimpong, who looked lively after coming on in Tokyo. It was his Alexander-Arnold-esque cross to the back post that handed Liverpool the lead, thanks to Trey Nyoni’s flying boot.

The creativity seen from the right-hand side of defense on Wednesday will be a major bonus as Liverpool looks to move on from the most innovative full-back around. But it also underlined that transition could come with a few hiccups along the way.

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