Liverpool team vs Real Betis predicted as Mohamed Salah plays new role and US tour begins

Liverpool will begin its pre-season tour in the USA later this week, with Arne Slot and his side set to take on Real Betis , Arsenal and Manchester United on the other side of the Atlantic. A friendly at Anfield against Sevilla awaits upon their return.

But with as many as 11 senior players still missing because they are on holiday following the European Championship and Copa America, it will be a somewhat depleted Liverpool squad that heads across to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Columbia. The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac Allister are not expected to be involved.

The behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston North End at the back end of last week gave a hint as to who could be involved in the US tour, with Mohamed Salah the most senior player by a distance. Dominik Szoboszlai , Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones have also made their comeback and are back in training.

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Against Preston, Liverpool lined up as follows in the first half: Viteszlav Jaros, Conor Bradley, Sepp van den Berg, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Curtis Jones , Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai (replaced by Wataru Endo in minute 33), Ben Doak, Mohamed Salah, Fabio Carvalho. A similar team can be expected against Real Betis.

Andy Robertson is also back in for pre-season but he didn't feature in the game against Preston. Luke Chambers played left-back in the second half of that match with Harvey Davies, Luca Stephenson, Amara Nallo, Nat Phillips, Owen Beck, Trey Nyoni, Stefan Bajcetic, Tyler Morton, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas, Harvey Blair and Kaide Gordon also involved.

It is likely to be a similar group that takes part in the US friendlies. Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker would be expected back in the middle of the trip, while Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk , Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo , Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez , Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez could be given until afterward to come back.

Gravenberch and Gomez didn't play a minute at Euro 2024 but there is no pressure being placed on them to make an early return under Slot. All players are normally given three weeks off from the time they are knocked out of international tournaments.

Liverpool.com says: It will be interesting to see what we can glean from the US friendlies (more than the Preston game, for sure). Salah seemed to be playing down the middle in the behind-closed-doors match, though it remains to be seen whether that was a temporary solution until more senior stars are back or if it might be something we see more of next season.

It is a role that he hasn't played much in the past, but seeing the Egyptian as a number nine would be intriguing. Salah is Liverpool's most reliable goalscorer so putting him as close to the net as possible would certainly have benefits.