Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Real Betis in Pittsburgh marked the beginning of the Arne Slot era, and it came with an unexpected tactical twist. The new Dutch manager raised eyebrows by deploying an unusual 4-4-2 formation, a departure from Liverpool’s typical setup in recent years and also from Slot’s own preferred formation. Although, we predicted that Slot might opt for a False 9 in the form of Mo Salah, this tactical choice against Betis was born out of necessity rather than it being an experiment. But it clearly shows that Slot is aligned with the idea that teams need not operate with a traditional number 9.
Arne Slot’s 4-4-2 formation against Real Betis
The formation that took the field against Betis was far from a conventional 4-4-2. In the absence of natural strikers Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo (still on holiday after international duties) and with Diogo Jota only just rejoining the squad, Slot was forced to improvise. His solution? Deploying attacking midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Harvey Elliott as makeshift forwards.
Slot explained the reasoning behind this unconventional setup post-match: “During the season you will see us play with a real striker, but at this moment we have no one available. Then with Dom and Harvey, we’ve got two No. 10s, so we put them in the position they will play during the season as well.”
The formation saw Szoboszlai and Elliott starting nominally as strikers but with the freedom to drop deep into their familiar number 10 roles. Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho provided width from the flanks, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo anchored the midfield. When Jones succumbed to an early injury, young prospect Trey Nyoni stepped in.
Despite its makeshift nature, the system proved effective enough to secure a 1-0 victory, with Szoboszlai netting the decisive goal. The Hungarian midfielder reflected on his unfamiliar role: “It’s a little bit different compared to last year, but we are ready to do everything. If Harvey drops on one side, I’m going to the middle, and if I’m dropping on the other side, Harvey is coming to the middle.”
This fluid interpretation of the 4-4-2 allowed Liverpool to maintain their preferred style of play, even without a traditional striker. Slot emphasized that while the formation was born out of necessity, the underlying principles remained consistent with his vision for the team: “That is maybe out of necessity, but for the rest, the style of play, with trying to build out from the back, that is our style. To control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks, that will hopefully be our style during the season.”
The unorthodox setup showcased several interesting tactical elements. The dual number 10s of Szoboszlai and Elliott provided a fluid, interchanging presence in attack, making it difficult for Betis defenders to mark them effectively. Meanwhile, Salah and Carvalho’s wide positioning stretched the defense, creating spaces for the central players to exploit. In midfield, Endo’s defensive prowess allowed his partners more freedom to push forward and support the attack.
However, Slot was quick to temper expectations about seeing this formation regularly once competitive fixtures begin. He made it clear that this was a temporary solution, tailored to the available personnel and the pre-season context. As the squad returns to full strength, we can expect to see a more conventional setup with natural strikers leading the line.
Nevertheless, this tactical experiment provides valuable insights into Slot’s approach. With his post-match comments, it’s evident that Slot wants a more controlled style rather than the death metal style pressing approach Jurgen Klopp is traditionally known for. His willingness to add more midfielders to the attack showcases his interest in helping the team maintain possession and control the game decisively.
