Match reportDominik Szoboszlai nets against Real Betis to give Liverpool winning start in USA

A well-taken finish from Dominik Szoboszlai after 34 minutes ensured Arne Slot’s first game as Reds head coach in front of supporters ended in victory.

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In sweltering conditions at Acrisure Stadium, Slot’s side dominated possession from the outset and were sharp with their pressing when without the ball.

Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah were off target early on with curling efforts from the edge of the area.

Betis threatened Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal for the first time in minute 20 when Juanmi fired an effort into the side-netting. They had a promising opportunity not long after but couldn’t capitalise on a turnover as Nabil Fekir spun and shot well over at the conclusion of the counter.

The breakthrough then came at the other end, courtesy of a Liverpool attack down the right.

Salah stood up Romain Perraud to play a pass into the space behind the Betis left-back, from where Szoboszlai stroked a finish past his former teammate Adrian.

Adrian stopped the Reds from doubling their lead moments later by thwarting a charging Conor Bradley, with Salah again the creator.

Trey Nyoni, who replaced Curtis Jones after half an hour, did well to fashion a chance early in the second half, though Rui Silva saved easily from Fabio Carvalho’s tame effort.

After Harvey Elliott headed wide from a Kostas Tsimikas cross, Slot opted to introduce eight players to the game from the bench – and two were involved when the Reds nearly made it 2-0 in the 67th minute.

Harvey Blair ran through and protested he had been brought down by the ’keeper inside the box. Kaide Gordon, however, pounced on the loose ball but ended up dragging wide.

Vitezslav Jaros replaced Kelleher at the break and it was his save towards the end to deny Iker Losada from close range that confirmed the Reds would make a winning start to their trip to the States.

Liverpool: Kelleher (Jaros, 46), Endo (Morton, 46), Szoboszlai (Bajcetic, 63), Salah (Blair, 63), Jones (Nyoni, 30 (Koumas, 73)), Elliott (Doak, 63), Tsimikas (Beck, 63), Carvalho (Gordon, 63), Van den Berg (Chambers, 63), Quansah (Phillips, 63), Bradley (Stephenson, 63).

Unused substitute: Nallo.

Attendance: 42,679