Arne Slot: New Liverpool manager pleased despite pre-season loss to Preston - 'We couldn't have asked more' - Eurosport

Liverpool manager Arne Slot is confident that his players are starting to adapt to his strategies, even though they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Preston North End in a pre-season match.

The two teams met at the AXA Training Centre on Friday afternoon as they get ready for the upcoming season. Slot put together a team led by Mohamed Salah, who is rumored to be considering a lucrative transfer this summer.

Slot's debut as manager came after taking over from Jurgen Klopp, who cited exhaustion as the reason for stepping down.

The Dutch coach had to manage his squad with 11 players still unavailable due to their participation in Euro 2024 and Copa America.

The game's only goal was scored by Robbie Brady with a lob from 40 yards. Slot rotated 25 players throughout the match.

After the game, Slot mentioned that his players were beginning to understand and implement his guidance.

He responded, "Absolutely. I've noticed this frequently during our practice sessions, perhaps even more so than today. However, it was also influenced by the opposing team's playing tactics."

We dominated the game and only allowed our opponents to take one shot. It was disappointing to lose 1-0 considering we only gave up that one opportunity.

In the first half, we had some promising opportunities and created some good chances. However, in the second half, I felt that we were not as effective in our attacking play. This was to be expected, as we had a number of young players in the team who were not always playing in their usual positions.

The boys have given their all in the first two weeks, exceeding our expectations. We have put in a lot of effort, aiming to incorporate new ideas. We are not just introducing new ideas, but also recognizing the great work that has already been done here.

Liverpool is getting ready for their next set of games in the United States. They will be facing off against Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United. The team also has a match against Sevilla at Anfield on August 11.

Slot is excited to participate in matches following a series of training sessions, stating, "It's crucial to also have a game after two weeks of intense training."

The top priority was that everyone was healthy before the game, and they remained in good health throughout the game.

It has been a positive fortnight. Regrettably, the outcome today was not as desired. Nonetheless, the team remained in good physical condition, with several players receiving playing time. Additionally, many young players were able to gain valuable minutes on the field, which was a positive development.

Each training session and match presents new areas for improvement. It's important to note that 11 key players who logged significant minutes in the previous season are not currently with the team.

It was great to see some young players performing well today. Those who played a lot last season and remained in good shape also showed some positive signs recently. This is definitely something to keep in mind as we prepare for our upcoming tour in the USA.

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