Carvalho Determined To Earn His Place In Liverpool's Line-Up This Pre-Season

Fabio Carvalho is eager to secure a spot in Arne Slot's Liverpool squad by making an impact during pre-season. The 21-year-old midfielder had a mixed loan spell last season, initially at RB Leipzig and then at Hull City. While he struggled for playing time in Germany, he found his footing at Hull, appearing 20 times in the Championship.

Carvalho has only made 21 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, scoring three goals. With his future under the new manager still uncertain, he is keen to prove himself. "I've had a few conversations with the manager which I'm not going to go into detail about, but he wants me to get my head down and work hard and see where that goes," Carvalho said. "It's about making a statement."

The young midfielder believes pre-season offers a valuable opportunity for all young players to make their mark. "There are good chances for all the young players on this trip. It's a chance for everyone to stamp their mark," he added.

Reflecting on his time at Hull City, Carvalho noted its importance for his development. "The time I spent at Hull was crucial. I needed game time, and I was happy when I was playing regularly," he said. "Every footballer wants to be playing week in and week out. I feel I got the best of myself when I was there and playing."

Carvalho got his first minutes under Slot in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Betis on Friday, playing just over an hour in Pittsburgh. He was deployed out wide on the left, and despite admitting it is not his favoured position, he was happy settling into his new manager's style.

Adapting to Slot's Style

"We spoke about it and he [Slot] told me to try and settle on the wing, but obviously I know where I play best, and I feel that is as a No 10," Carvalho explained. "I think I play better there." Despite this preference, Carvalho is committed to following Slot's instructions and working hard for him.

"I'm just going to do what he wants me to do and just work as hard as I can for him," Carvalho continued. "He's giving me good instructions and motivating me a lot in training and giving me that confidence."

Carvalho appreciated getting some game time against Betis and felt positive about Slot's approach. "It was good to play against Betis and get a few touches, good to be back in," he said. "I feel like the manager's style is a good fit for all of us."

Positive Football Under Slot

Carvalho praised Slot's emphasis on creating chances through positive football. "I feel like he plays positive football; he likes creating chances and that's what we've been doing," Carvalho noted.

The midfielder remains focused on proving himself during pre-season, hoping it will lead to more opportunities under Slot’s management.