Arne Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai were in complete agreement after Trey Nyoni’s impressive display in Liverpool’s first pre-season game on their tour of the United States.

The Reds beat Real Betis 1-0 in Pittsburgh to give Slot his first win as head coach since taking over from Jurgen Klopp. It was Szoboszlai’s goal during the first half that settled the scores, although it’s Nyoni that has a lot of fans talking after his performance.

The 17-year-old was introduced after the half-hour mark as a replacement for the injured Curtis Jones, and the youngster certainly did not look out of place. Nyoni was involved in the move that led to Szoboszlai’s goal, and he continued to look confident in an eye-catching display.

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His performance has got fans more than a little bit excited, and he even caused Slot to break one of his promises when discussing his players during the tour.

"I said yesterday that I'm not going to name any youngster that caught my eye but if you see that he comes in after 30 minutes, you could expect that I meant him," Slot said post-match.

"He just turned 17 so his body is not grown yet and he needs some time to get stronger. He found a lot of players between the lines and the biggest chance we had, it was a great pass from him."

Nyoni starred in a substitute appearance on Friday (Image: Twitter/X)

Slot wasn’t the only one impressed. Szoboszlai also sung Nyoni’s praises after the game, with the midfielder left stunned by his performance while watching on from the bench in the second half.

"I like [Nyoni] a lot," Szoboszlai added. "He is a really offensive player. I just said on the bench to [Jarell] Quansah, you can’t even foul him because of his movements and stuff like this.

"Everybody saw in the second half, Nat [Phillips] was a center-back but otherwise everybody was young and almost none of them were 20. But they still did a good job, didn’t concede a goal and had chances. So yeah, a good future."

Liverpool.com says: You never want to set your expectations too high after a pre-season game, but Nyoni certainly looks the part. He has been catching the eye for a while, and it came as no surprise to see him earn a place in the squad for the tour to the US.

Fans might have to be a bit patient with him – we’ve seen with Stefan Bajcetic that it’s not just a simple case of throwing him in at the deep end as he still has a lot of developing to do. The signs are very encouraging though.

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Liverpool is yet to make a transfer this summer and after Fulham confirmed its capture of Ryan Sessegnon, the Reds are now the only club in the top flight yet to add anyone to their roster. Fans are understandably eagerly anticipating some transfer news as Arne Slot's team intensifies its pre-season preparations.

The Reds are currently stateside, preparing to go head-to-head with Arsenal and Manchester United having now faced Real Betis. Slot is still without several of his key players, meaning a youthful squad will be taking the field in the coming weeks, but Diogo Jota has joined up with his teammates.

Pedro Neto is the latest name being bandied about, with reports indicating that discussions have taken place regarding a potential transfer for the Wolves superstar. He's not the only one turning heads, with fans also buzzing about the possibility of Mohammed Kudus joining the ranks at Anfield, following links to Anthony Gordon.

And then, of course, there are new contracts required for Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. There is, then, plenty to be getting on with.

Keep an eye on our live blog for all the latest transfer updates...

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Liverpool played well against Real Betis and while you cannot take too much from a single friendly where 11 senior players were still missing because of their holidays, it was a positive step in the right direction.

But while Slot has been waiting to judge his players in training and get a better feel for the areas of the team that need improving — which partly explains the delay in any incomings this summer — there are only three weeks to go until the new season begins. Meanwhile, Liverpool still has lots of work to get through.

Diogo Jota is with the Reds in Pittsburgh, and Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch will both soon be joining him. But the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez are not coming back to meet Slot for the first time until there is under a fortnight to go until the Premier League opener against Ipswich Town.

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The tight turnaround between the European Championship and the Copa America and the start of the Slot era in terms of competitive matches was always going to prove tricky, but the Dutch coach says he would be "surprised" if no new signings arrived through the door this summer. Time, though, is ticking down.

"The standards are really high to bring in new players," he explained in a press conference earlier in the week. "If you inherit a team that’s really good, it’s not easy to find players who are even higher.

"Richard [Hughes, the sporting director] is working really hard on that. If there’s any news on that we will come to you; we already have a good team. But it would be a surprise for all of us if we don’t get anyone in. We’re just waiting for the players to come back."

The areas that need strengthening remain clear. While Liverpool has missed out on Leny Yoro to Manchester United, a center-back who it felt could be a generational talent, failing to find an alternative would be a risk.

Arne Slot is expecting Liverpool to make a signing this summer. (Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Ibrahima Konate's injury history is checkered and Jarell Quansah enjoyed a superb breakout campaign last year but is only 21. Joe Gomez spent most of the previous season playing at full-back, albeit very well, while Virgil van Dijk is 33 and entering the final season of his contract.

In midfield, a world-class number six is the obvious position that Liverpool's current roster lacks but identifying such a player is something that has proven elusive in the past. Last summer, the Reds missed out on Moises Caicedo and had previously admired Aurelien Tchouameni. There is no one obvious on the market who would hold a similar appeal, even if the money is there to be spent.

In the attack, meanwhile, Anthony Gordon is a player who is admired. The Newcastle United forward would be keen on moving to Anfield, too, but this current employer is no longer in desperate need of a PSR boost.

Between now and August 17 ideally (when the trip to Ipswich is booked in), but certainly before the transfer deadline around two weeks after that, Liverpool would, in a dream scenario, sign players in all three positions in which it looks weakest. Gordon, in a perfect situation, would be able to force through a move, and another exciting center-back would come available on the market.

Meanwhile, Liverpool would be able to keep hold of Caoimhin Kelleher and find good loan moves for youngsters like Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak. The clock is ticking, however.

Jota has joined up with his teammates in the USA and Gravenberch and Konate will follow. At some point, though, Liverpool is going to have to make a move in the market without Slot having had a great deal of time to work with every one of the players that he inherits.

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Arsenal's chances of signing Fabian Ruiz have been significantly boosted following a transfer decision by Paris Saint-Germain. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who shone in his country's European championship victory over the summer, has piqued the interest of the Gunners despite a challenging season in France.

Ruiz managed to score seven goals and provide three assists from 35 appearances across all competitions, clocking just over 2,000 minutes on the pitch. Most of these contributions came during PSG's Coupe de France campaign. His performance at Euro 2024, where he netted two goals and provided two assists, is a testament to his potential in a well-oiled team.

Considering his inconsistent season at PSG and the club's own transfer activities, Ruiz's departure seems plausible. Arsenal is reported to have initiated contact, as per Duncan Castles. It's also been suggested that any potential deal hinges on Arsenal offloading a midfielder, with a loan move followed by an obligatory purchase being the likely arrangement, reports Football London.

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A crucial piece of the puzzle could soon fall into place as Arsenal has agreed a fee of up to $45m (£35m/€42m) with Fulham for the sale of Emile Smith Rowe, according to Football.London. This could pave the way for Ruiz to step in as his replacement, especially with PSG's pursuit of Joao Neves giving Arsenal an additional edge in securing the Spanish player.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that French heavyweight PSG is nearing a deal to sign Neves from Benfica for a fee of $76m (£59m/€70m), with Renato Sanches set to move the other way. It's also been suggested that PSG is keen to wrap up the deal as soon as next week, which could provide Arsenal with a clear timeline if they decide to pursue Ruiz.

Fabian Ruiz of Spain (Image: Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Alternatively, Arteta and Edu might turn their attention to Ruiz's Spanish compatriot Mikel Merino, who currently plies his trade at Real Sociedad and has already been linked with a move to the Emirates. With the Gunners having now sealed a deal for Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, with a medical and announcement imminent, they can shift their focus to other targets.

Bolstering the midfield is high on Arsenal's agenda ahead of the 2024/25 season. With links to both Ruiz and Merino intensifying, it seems likely that a decision will be made soon on which midfielder to bring in, while also facilitating several departures.

Liverpool.com says: The Reds will be watching what Arsenal and Manchester City do this summer ahead of a possible title battle next year. While Liverpool is yet to bring anyone in, nothing its rivals have done so far will be particularly scary.

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Manchester United have added Andreas Georgson to their coaching staff, as the latest addition to Erik ten Hag's backroom team.

The 42-year-old joins from the Norwegian side Lillestrom, where he held the position of head coach since the beginning of the year. Georgson has a rich history in football, having previously served as caretaker boss for Malmo in his native Sweden, and also worked with Brentford, Arsenal, and Southampton.

In addition to Georgson, United have also appointed Jelle Ten Rouwelaar as goalkeeping coach following Richard Hartis' departure. In his new role, Georgson will work closely with Steve McClaren and Darren Fletcher, as United aim to improve on their eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

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As part of their preparations for the upcoming season, United have already faced Rosenborg and Rangers in pre-season matches. They are now embarking on a tour of the USA, where they will face off against rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as La Liga team Real Betis.

The Red Devils will then challenge Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 10, just six days before the start of the new Premier League season.

Ten Hag has added to his backroom staff (Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Despite rumors of job insecurity following last season's struggles, ten Hag managed to secure his position after leading United to an FA Cup final victory. The triumphant match saw United defeat rivals City at Wembley, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Liverpool.com says: Manchester United is certainly making changes off the field as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's revolution continues. But it remains to be seen whether these chess moves will be enough to drag a squad that finished eighth last season into the top four, let alone challenge for the title. It also seems that Erik ten Hag, who only just kept his job, is getting further support. Time will tell if these decisions pay off but, for now, we're not too worried.

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Harry Maguire has opened up about the heartbreak of missing key matches due to injury, labeling it the most challenging period in his career. The Manchester United center-back has been sidelined with a calf injury, which not only saw him miss out on United's 2-1 FA Cup win against rival Manchester City, but he also had to sit out of Euro 2024.

Reflecting on the setbacks, Maguire told the Daily Mirror: "It was probably the toughest moment of my career. I worked so hard throughout the year, to get myself in a position where I was in a really good position physically and mentally, to play the FA Cup final and then think about the Euros."

He continued, detailing the frustration of his recurring injury: "To have an injury which was, to be honest, not a big injury, it was just a calf injury, but it was only a three-week injury, but I had three setbacks with it."

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Maguire recounted the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced: "When I first did the injury, I thought I'd be fit for the FA Cup final. So I pushed myself for the final, then I had a setback in the week leading up to the final, which ruled me out of it. At that time, it was no problem, I was going to be fit for the Euros. Then I went away with England and had another setback, so yeah, it was so frustrating,"

He concluded with a reflective note: "When I look back, I wish I'd no chance with all of them, so I could have got my head around it. But it just didn't happen and maybe I just pushed myself to get back too early."

Maguire shared his experience of supporting England from afar, saying: "I managed to get over it and was still in contact with a lot of the lads." He also noted that his teammates made him feel included: "Obviously a lot of them are my really good close mates and even though it was tough that I wasn't over there, they did make me feel like I was still part of the group."

Despite not being present, he found ways to enjoy the tournament: "It was tough to not be there but I still managed to watch the boys play and had big groups with my family and friends, who are all big England fans, so I still enjoyed the summer, watching them do well."

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 27: Harry Maguire of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley FC at Old Trafford on April 27, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

On the club front, Maguire is optimistic about Manchester United's future under Jim Ratcliffe's leadership. "It's exciting times for everyone involved with the club and it's definitely going in the right direction again," he said. "As a player and someone who cares about the club, it's really good to see."

Maguire, speaking about Ratcliffe, stated: "He's really interactive with the players and that's important. It's really good just to see them with the lads. The structure now, I really think it's going to work.

"There's more energy coming into this pre-season and more excitement. Last season was difficult, with so much uncertainty with every member of staff and even players. It's definitely a more energized club to be involved in now. I do believe the structure they have got it will get back to where it should be."

Liverpool.com says: Maguire is a classic Manchester United signing, really. He was over-priced and has flattered to deceive as a result. There is a decent enough player in there but he hasn't really shown his best so far at Old Trafford. If the club is now as well run as he thinks it is, he might not be there a great deal longer.

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