Slot Hails Offensive Depth as Liverpool Score Seven in Back-to-Back Pre-Season Wins

Arne Slot is beginning to see the pieces fall into place.

As Liverpool closed out their pre-season programme with a pair of wins over Athletic Club at Anfield on Monday, the Dutchman offered an optimistic appraisal of what lies ahead, particularly in the attacking third.

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Between a 4-1 win in the afternoon and a lively 3-2 triumph in the evening, the Reds tallied seven goals and gave supporters a glimpse of the firepower Slot now has at his disposal. The performance wasn’t perfect, but Slot made no attempt to hide his satisfaction.

“In both games we created a lot of chances,” he told Liverpoolfc.com. “We scored seven goals – four in the first, three in the second – so that’s very pleasing to see.”

There was a clear rhythm in Liverpool’s attacking sequences. In the opening game, goals from Rio Ngumoha, Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott showcased the youth and speed bubbling beneath the surface.

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Later on, Cody Gakpo’s brace and a polished Mohamed Salah finish ensured a clean sweep against the La Liga side. Slot, though, was most impressed by the team’s ability to carve open opportunities even when those chances weren’t always converted.

“Especially in the second game in the first half, I think we could have scored a few more than we did,” he noted. “So that pleased me most – the ability to create the chances.”

New signings like Hugo Ekitike, who dazzled in moments during his Anfield debut, have added a new dynamic to the forward line. Young Rio Ngumoha is also catching the manager’s eye. While acknowledging the absence of key attackers like Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, Slot remained upbeat about the balance of options available to him.

“We’ve added, with Hugo, definitely a player that’s going to be very good for us. Rio is showing good things every time in pre-season,” Slot said.

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Still, for all the positive forward momentum, he’s under no illusions about where the squad must sharpen up. Conceding from set-pieces twice in the second game left a sour note.

“That’s not what you want, especially if you play Crystal Palace next who are very strong on set-pieces,” he admitted. “That’s another thing to work on.”

Beyond the frontline, Slot sees promise in the creative engine being built. Florian Wirtz, another fresh arrival, offers innovation in the final third. Though Trent Alexander-Arnold’s unique delivery from deep is a loss, Slot believes the German midfielder can unlock defences in a different but equally effective way.

“Trent’s crosses and picking out runners was so special. I think Flo has this quality as well in a totally different position,” he explained.

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With their final preparations complete, Liverpool now turn their attention to Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace in the FA Community Shield. Slot knows the Premier League landscape will be fiercely competitive, but Monday’s display gave him plenty to smile about.

“Players are fit, worked really hard, played some good football, defended strongly, apart from the two set-pieces. So, a good day overall.”