Arne Slot’s revamped Liverpool side defeated Premier League rivals Arsenal 2-1 in Philadelphia, thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho.
Salah opened the scoring with a 13th-minute strike, and Carvalho added another with a goal in the 34th minute, both from well-executed Liverpool plays. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz pulled one back with a close-range shot in the 40th minute during an action-packed first half Tỷ số trực tuyến 7m.
Both teams made substitutions in the second half of the friendly as the pace slowed at Lincoln Financial Field, where the 69,679-strong crowd set a record for a football match at the stadium.
Liverpool’s final pre-season fixture in the US is against Manchester United in Columbia on Saturday at 00:45 BST Sunday.
Arsenal flew home immediately after Wednesday’s match and will compete in a friendly tournament against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon at Emirates Stadium.
Can Elliott Have a Breakthrough Season?
Several of Harvey Elliott’s former England Under-21 teammates have made their way into the senior squad over the past year, and before kick-off, the Liverpool player acknowledged that it’s up to him to follow suit.
The 21-year-old had a solid performance in a lackluster 1-0 friendly victory over Real Betis, but he truly shone in an attacking midfield role against Arsenal.
Had Diogo Jota not squandered a prime opportunity, Elliott would have recorded a hat-trick of impressive first-half assists, following a brilliant through ball for Salah’s goal and an instinctive lobbed pass for Carvalho.
Under new manager Slot, the style of play and the envisioned number 10 role appear to be an ideal match for Elliott, a versatile player eager to establish his presence at the top level.
If Elliott transitions from being Jurgen Klopp’s versatile option to a regular fixture in Slot’s new system, an England debut could be on the horizon.
Commenting on Elliott, Slot remarked: “He provided two excellent assists, but it’s important to note that the team also created those opportunities for him—playing out from the back, positioning him and other number 10s in the right spots. It’s up to him to capitalize on these situations, and he certainly did that today with his two assists.”
“If I seem a bit critical, there were a couple of other moments where he could have performed better, but that’s part of what the team is setting up for him,” Slot said.
Elliott responded: “I need to solidify my role, continue developing, and improving.
“In the England team, I also play in a similar position, so I will have familiarity and experience handling the ball.
“The next step is to focus on playing consistently in one position, both physically and mentally, and to keep pushing forward.
Further Evidence Arsenal Need a Striker?
Arsenal attacked Liverpool’s goal aggressively from the start but squandered their opportunities. Gabriel Jesus directed a one-on-one chance straight at Caoimhin Kelleher, while Gabriel Martinelli fired over the bar from the edge of the box.
The Gunners also failed to capitalize on chances to equalize at 2-1, with Havertz, Fabio Vieira, and Eddie Nketiah all missing promising opportunities.
Arsenal now face a decision: invest in additional firepower or enhance their current, capable—but not world-class—forward line to provide that extra edge needed to secure a Premier League title.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commented: “We need to be more clinical and punish teams when we have the chance. It’s a clear area for improvement. Liverpool scored with their first opportunity, which highlights the difference that converting chances can make.
“Our teammates coordinated well to create many dangerous ball situations, and had a very high chance of converting into goals.We need to enhance our finishing.”
Slot evaluates his team against top-tier opposition
Slot, the Reds’ manager, has shown during this U.S. tour that his team is willing to take more risks with the ball, which inevitably leads to some errors.
Liverpool’s style is evolving into a more fluid approach, moving away from Jurgen Klopp’s ‘heavy metal football.’
In their match against Arsenal, Liverpool’s mistakes in possession, notably from Kelleher and Curtis Jones, resulted in scoring opportunities for Arsenal.
Arsenal, on the other hand, appear physically robust and sharp, maintaining their established style while Arteta aims to further develop it, especially with the recent addition of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.