Arne Slot explained Liverpool’s unusual formation in their friendly against Real Betis, where Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott started up front but frequently dropped into their typical attacking midfield roles, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho coming in from the wings. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo were positioned in central midfield.
Slot noted that this formation was a result of the limited options available at the moment. “During the season, we’ll use a traditional striker, but currently, we don’t have one available,” he said. “With Dom and Harvey as two No. 10s, we decided to use them in roles they will occupy throughout the season. This was one reason for playing with a double 10 instead of a striker.”
He also emphasized that despite this temporary adjustment, Liverpool’s style of play—focusing on building from the back and controlling the game while limiting counter-attacks—remains a priority. “There are areas for improvement, but that’s expected after just two weeks of training,” Slot added.