Six talking points from Liverpool’s US tour

Liverpool and new manager Arne Slot have completed their pre-season tour of the United States with a 100% win record.

BBC Sport has been at all three of their games, including Saturday night’s 3-0 win over Manchester United.

Here are six talking points from a tour that took the Reds to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and Columbia, South Carolina.

Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US was full of winning football but left little chance to get to know more about Slot away from the field.

The Dutchman is replacing Jurgen Klopp after eight-and-a-half glorious years under the German.

Some clubs use overseas tours to help introduce new coaches to the media but this was not really the case here.

Slot appeared friendly but guarded, opting to watch a Phillies baseball match rather than conduct interviews for example, and took part in just one pre-match news conference while Stateside.

But, from speaking to a host of players around him on this tour, they appear to be enjoying the challenge of learning a new style of play – and three consecutive wins give hope of the potential to challenge for trophies once again this season.

A thumping 3-0 win against Manchester United rounded off a pre-season which also saw a 1-0 win over Real Betis and a 2-1 win over Arsenal.

The whole tour, as CEO Billy Hogan revealed in an interview with BBC Sport, was designed by Slot’s predecessor Klopp and focused on minimising air miles, ensuring training facilities were world class and avoiding high summer temperatures in the United States wherever they could.

Slot described it as a “very positive” tour, which was less focused on marketing or selling his new club than preparation for winning.

Since Conor Bradley’s emergence midway through last season, the question has been what does this mean for Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Northern Ireland right-back Bradley, 21, excelled in pre-season with Alexander-Arnold, who was at times used in midfield for England at Euro 2024, enjoying a post-tournament break.

Bradley was allowed to overlap and perform as a traditional full-back after starting in all three friendlies.

Will Alexander-Arnold, 25, become Slot’s first-choice in that position on his return or be used in a more advanced role?

The situation is further complicated by the need to renew Alexander-Arnold’s contract, which expires next summer, amid links to Real Madrid.

Liverpool, who are in the Champions League next season, have made major changes off the pitch by adding not just a new manager but also four sporting directors, without signing a player.

Hogan told BBC Sport Klopp’s departure has provided them with a chance to “reboot and reset”.

Owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have brought back Michael Edwards, who left the club in 2022, in an enhanced oversight role with Julian Ward underneath him.

Sporting director Richard Hughes and technical director Pedro Marques also join a radically overhauled Liverpool recruitment structure.

There is a belief both inside and outside the club that all these figures are exceptional hires, but a lack of transfer activity so far this summer has left some supporters frustrated.

Word inside the club is that they are being careful not to disrupt the fine-tuned group built by Klopp and the calibre of player needed is so high that there are only a few options in world football that would improve the squad.

Liverpool did miss out on centre-back Leny Yoro, 18, who they regarded highly, as Manchester United were able to offer a faster pathway to their first team, and interest in their players Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz could yet force them into the market if they go.

When asked by BBC Sport what Slot’s answer to Klopp’s heavy metal football was, midfielder Harvey Elliott said it was an “elegant”, typically Dutch style.

Elliott, Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah are among those to enjoy the more possession-heavy approach, featuring shorter passes and more interchanging of positions.

They will play out from the back and risk making mistakes but hope that a patient, meticulous build-up approach will ultimately reap rewards.

They will still press but with less intensity and when struggling against Arsenal they sat in effectively to ward off pressure. Could this approach lead to fewer injuries and less fatigue towards the end of the season?

It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool adapt to such a significant change in their previously unique and entertaining style, or whether certain players struggle.

As Liverpool legend John Barnes said on the US tour: “In many respects, it is more about the players adapting to the manager.

“It is probably going to be more difficult for the players than at other clubs with other managers, because Jurgen was here for eight or nine years and has been so instrumental in creating an identity for the football club.

“But the players are up for it and they seem to like it.”

A lack of signings is a great boost for an improving academy structure at Liverpool.

Although guarded in his comments, Slot seemed particularly taken by midfielder Trey Nyoni, 17, who excelled in his pre-season outings and earned significant minutes.

Ben Doak, Luca Stephensen, Amara Nallo, Tyler Morton, Lewis Koumas, James McConnell, Harvey Blair and Owen Beck also played some part in the tour.

Czech goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, 23, impressed against Manchester United and could be another option.

The likes of Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg were excellent in significant pre-season roles but could still be sold.

A fresh Mohamed Salah unsurprisingly looks ready to continue his prominent role, despite interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia to secure his signature.

But one area where Slot has admitted some concern is not having the full squad at his disposal while on tour, with several of his experienced core given extra time off after busy summers.

Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Diaz, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk have all yet to meet the manager but will be key to any success.

Nunez could also face punishment for his involvement in an altercation with Colombian fans after Uruguay’s Copa America loss.

Meanwhile, contract situations around Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold will need to be addressed, with Diaz also facing an uncertain future.