Topics: Robbie Brady, Preston North End, Liverpool, Club Friendly
The Dutch tactician oversaw his first game in charge of the Merseyside giants. However, this behind-closed-doors friendly ended in defeat.

Liverpool have played their first match in their post-Jurgen Klopp era, with the Merseyside giants hosting Preston North End at the AXA Training Centre in a behind-closed-doors friendly. 

This was Arne Slot's first game as Liverpool's head coach, having been appointed as Klopp's successor in late May. Unfortunately, this friendly did not produce the ideal result.

The Reds were handed a 1-0 defeat, with Slot's side losing to a stunning 40-yard goal from Robbie Brady, a former Manchester United winger.

The 32-year-old profited off of a poor touch from a Liverpool player and won the ball back at roughly the halfway line before lobbing the keeper from 40 yards out. Check out this goal from the clip below.

The scoreline remained this way until the final whistle, thus condemning the Reds to a defeat in Slot's debut. However, this result means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

The Dutch manager gave minutes to 25 players and made a whole host of changes at half-time. Ultimately, while a win would have been lovely for the club, the purpose of this fixture was to give players minutes to build up their fitness.

Several first-team players featured, with Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, and Conor Bradley all starting. Meanwhile, Wataru Endo came on as a sub.

Slot sent out a host of young players for the second half, which is when Preston North End scored the winning goal. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Darwin Nunez, Andrew Robertson, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate, and Luis Diaz are yet to report for duty due to their participation in Euro 2024 and the Copa America.

However, a few of those absent first-team players could feature during the club's USA trip, with Slot's side set to face Real Betis, Arsenal, and bitter rivals Manchester United stateside