Liverpool currently have 11 internationals competing at Euro 2024 and Copa America after the latest rounds came to a close.
The Reds have seven European representatives participating in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, with Cody Gakpo helping to fire Netherlands into the round of 16. Meanwhile, on the Copa America stage, all four of their South American contingent have reached the final eight after the group stages drew to a close on Tuesday night.
With the next round of fixtures in the two tournaments taking place between July 4 and July 6, the Reds will be without all 11 internationals when they fly to Pittsburgh for the start of their pre-season tour of the United States on July 23.
With the Euro 2024 and Copa America finals both taking place on July 14, further progress in either tournament could well result in the 11 missing the Reds’ tour of the United States entirely.
The Reds will first lock horns with Real Betis in the early hours of Saturday 27 July (UK time), with the fixture being Arne Slot’s first match as Liverpool head coach. Further friendlies are scheduled against Arsenal on August 1 (UK time) and Manchester United on August 4 (UK time).
The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Trent-Alexander Arnold, Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister will all be away, while center-back Sepp van den Berg is intent on leaving Liverpool to return to Mainz 05 after a successful loan. However the Bundesliga outfit’s sporting director Christian Heidel admits a temporary stay of action is necessary as the Reds are short on center-backs when pre-season kicks off.
As a result, Van den Berg could hence start alongside Jarell Quansah against Real Betis with Van Dijk, Konate and Joe Gomez not yet back in pre-season, while waiting for his future to be resolved. The alternative would be for Nat Phillips to start, even though he too is expected to depart this summer.
Liverpool would ideally love to select Leny Yoro continuing to monitor the Lille defender’s situation although the teenager prefers a move to Real Madrid.
As for Andy Robertson, he will have been back in pre-season for two weeks at this point after suffering a group-stage exit with Scotland at Euro 2024 and should be fit enough to start as the captain.
Conor Bradley should be slotted in at right-back while Caoimhin Kelleher will be in between the sticks as Allison will likely not be back yet in pre-season.
And if Kelleher were to be sold, Vitezslav Jaros would be the most senior alternative.
The assumption is that Slot will be playing a 4-2-3-1 formation in pre-season.
Wataru Endo starts as part of a double-pivot, Spared Olympic Games duty with Japan, and could be partnered by Curtis Jones. Another option would be to split the senior pair and opt for a mixture of experience and youth in each half against Real Betis with the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, James McConnell and Tyler Morton being the alternatives.
Fabio Carvalho could get the nod to start at number 10 for Liverpool on this occasion in his favoured position as club bosses continue to assess him following a successful loan with Hull City.
Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai could start as inverted widemen on either flank, with Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon and Lewis Koumas as youthful alternatives in reserve. Bobby Clark could also be an option to play deeper, as a 10 or outwide.
Notably, the star attraction for Liverpool in the United States would be none other than Mohamed Salah, the only one of the Reds’ five senior forwards who will actually be available to face Real Betis.
The Egyptian should get the nod to lead the line down the middle in what would be a new role with limited attacking options available as a result. However, Slot could alternatively field him on the right, with Elliott then operating at number 10 while Carvalho poses as a false nine.
Jayden Danns is the alternative off the bench and will be hungry to push on under his new head coach after an impressive breakthrough season last year.
Finally, Anthony Gordon would likely not be back in time to make an unofficial debut against Real Betis due to his Euro 2024 exploits, even though Newcastle United recently made the approach regarding a possible deal as the Reds are looking to raise funds in order to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.