Liverpool lose to Preston in Arne Slot's first game as Mo Salah and other stars beaten by incredible 40-yard lob in pre-season friendly

Slot's Reds slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to their Championship visitors at the AXA Training Centre. The deciding goal came from former Manchester United winger Robbie Brady, who capitalised on a slack Liverpool pass in their own half and scored from a 40-yard lob against 22-year-old goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.

The result doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things, but this was Slot's first opportunity to see his available squad in action in a match-like environment. Overall, 25 players were involved for Liverpool, with starts for Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley. Wataru Endo replaced Szoboszlai after 33 minutes, while it was predominantly a very young Reds side in the second half when Preston got their goal.

Liverpool were still without a lot of first-team players due to international duty in Europe and South America in recent weeks. 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 will all return to boost the squad soon.

Liverpool's first proper pre-season friendly is still a week away when they face Real Betis in Pittsburgh on July 26. Further tour games against Arsenal and Manchester United follow, before an August 11 friendly at Anfield against Sevilla. Slot will hope to see his tactics come together in those games before the Premier League gets going with a trip to newly promoted Ipswich.