Arne Slot's Liverpool look like they are ready for the start of the season.
The Reds walked away with a 4-1 win on August 11th over Sevilla in Arne Slot's first match at Anfield. It was not a full-strength starting XI for Liverpool as many senior players were allocated to the second match of the day, a behind-closed-doors friendly against Las Palmas, which ended 0-0. However, players such as Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Joe Gomez and Luis Diaz all played their first (and last) minutes of pre-season.
So, what are three Liverpool talking points after the Reds' friendly win against Sevilla?
Three talking points from Liverpool's 4-1 win over Sevilla at Anfield
1. Luis Diaz finds groove quickly in first match back for Liverpool
Luis Diaz, along with other senior internationals, only returned early last week from their extended summer break, having played in a tournament (Copa American and Euro) this summer for their respective countries. Luis Diaz and Colombia made it all the way to the Copa America final, where they were defeated by Argentina.
Diaz's first impression of Arne Slot in-game will have the Dutch manager likely slotting in the Colombian winger as his starting left-winger against Ipswich Town. Diaz doubled Liverpool's lead after an opening goal from Diogo Jota. Diaz received the ball just outside the box, then fooled the Sevilla defender on a cut-in move before striking in a curler.
On Diaz's second goal, a long kick by Alisson found Mo Salah, who was able to hold up the ball and pass it off to Diogo Jota. The Portuguese attacker then slipped the ball in a darting Dominik Szoboszlai, who made a perfectly timed run to get ahead of the Sevilla defenders. The Hungarian then passed the ball over to a wide-open Diaz, who made no mistake, putting the Reds up 3-0.
Diaz's clinical finishing and positional awareness proved perfect against Sevilla, and it will be what Arne Slot asks of him during the season as well.
A sublime team move 👏 pic.twitter.com/MqHPPz40C2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2024
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