Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with updates on Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen and the future of Reds midfielder Ryan Gravenberch

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with updates on Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen and the future of Reds midfielder Ryan Gravenberch

Some Liverpool moments you may not have spotted after the friendly match against Real Betis

Some Liverpool moments you may not have spotted after the friendly match against Real Betis

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as Fabio Carvalho's future at Anfield remains uncertain while the Reds confirm the departure of one member of the squad

Latest Liverpool news and gossip as Fabio Carvalho's future at Anfield remains uncertain while the Reds confirm the departure of one member of the squad

Liverpool player ratings and scores after Arne Slot's first friendly match against Real Betis

Liverpool player ratings and scores after Arne Slot's first friendly match against Real Betis

Liverpool face Real Betis in the first match of their USA pre-season tour and we’re live to bring you the latest.

Kickoff at the Acrisure Stadium is 12.30am (UK).

Tonight’s blog is run by Harry McMullen, get involved by Tweeting @thisisanfield, @mcmulhar & in the comments below.

Starting team

Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Van den Berg, Quansah, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Carvalho, Elliott

Subs: Jaros, Phillips, Nallo, Bradley, Chambers, Beck, Bajcetic, Morton, Stephenson, Nyoni, Doak, Gordon, Koumas, Blair

Our coverage updates automatically below:

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Full Liverpool team news and starting line-up for Arne Slot's first televised friendly match vs Real Betis

Full Liverpool team news and starting line-up for Arne Slot's first televised friendly match vs Real Betis

Liverpool’s starting lineup against Real Betis has been confirmed, with Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai both starting.

The Reds have already played a behind-closed-doors game against Preston, but this is the first match of pre-season proper, as Liverpool take on Betis in Pittsburgh, USA.

Arne Slot is without several key players who are still on holiday, but this match should at least give us a chance to see if there will be any significant alterations to how Liverpool play.

As with most of Liverpool’s pre-season games, we expect there two different sides to play in either half, to ensure everyone is getting minutes into their legs.

To start with, Slot has gone for Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, behind a back four of Conor Bradley, Sepp van den Berg, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas.

In midfield, Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo and Szoboszlai all start, while Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Salah will likely form the attacking trio.

Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Van den Berg, Quansah, Tsimikas; Jones, Endo, Szoboszlai; Salah, Carvalho, Elliott

Substitutes: Jaros, Phillips, Nallo, Bradley, Chambers, Beck, Bajcetic, Morton, Stephenson, Nyoni, Doak, Gordon, Koumas, Blair

We expect to watch the Reds in a 4-3-3 formation but there is a chance they line up in more of a 4-2-3-1 for this fixture, given the personnel available.

We will also likely see the central midfielders taking on more responsibility. Jones explained: “The centre-mids were always lads who were runners and more disciplined.

“The principles are the same, but I feel that now the centre-mids are going to be more the heart of the team.

“Mo is still going to get his goals, but in terms of our build-up, it’s how comfortable and calm we have to be and play more as a team.

“We’re not in a rush to attack, we want to have the ball and break teams down and that gives us a chance, if we give the ball away, we can go and press.”

The key news from a Real Betis perspective is that Adrian starts after leaving Liverpool earlier this summer, as does Nabil Fekir who nearly signed for the Reds in 2018.

You can follow all the action today and throughout pre-season with us by downloading the This is Anfield app for iPhone and Android for free.

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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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Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with Real Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo continuing to be linked with a move to Anfield

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip with Real Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo continuing to be linked with a move to Anfield

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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Liverpool vs Real Betis live stream, team news, match updates, kick-off time, TV channel, score and stream

Liverpool vs Real Betis live stream, team news, match updates, kick-off time, TV channel, score and stream

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip as the Reds continue to be linked with several new signings during the summer transfer window