Arne Slot and Liverpool secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Premier League rival Arsenal in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool, followed by Fabio Carvalho, who extended the lead before Kai Havertz managed to pull one back for Arsenal. Despite their efforts, Arsenal was unable to equalize.
Mail Sport’s correspondents in Philadelphia, Lewis Steele and Isaan Khan, provide player ratings from the match.
Arne Slot saw his Liverpool team record an encouraging pre-season win over Arsenal
LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS
BY LEWIS STEELE at the Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Caoimhin Kelleher – 6.5
The Irish goalkeeper had a mixed evening. He almost cost a goal early on by taking too long on the ball, allowing Gabriel Jesus to almost capitalize. However, he made several impressive passes throughout the match.
Conor Bradley – 6.5
Bradley wasn’t quite as forward-thinking as in the previous match against Real Betis but showcased solid defensive skills against Gabriel Martinelli, passing a tough test.
Jarell Quansah – 7.5
He made a compelling case for a starting position in the upcoming Premier League opener against Ipswich. He was composed on the ball and positioned well defensively, making crucial tackles and interceptions.
Jarell Quansah impressed for Liverpool against Arsenal in Philadelphia on Wednesday night
Sepp van den Berg – 7
He made an excellent tackle on Gabriel Jesus early in the match and continued to perform solidly. Despite questioning his high valuation earlier in the week, he proved his worth with a strong display.
Kostas Tsimikas – 5
Tsimikas was caught out too easily by Martin Odegaard, leading to Arsenal’s first goal. The left-back position appears to be a concern for Liverpool as they look to the future while Andy Robertson ages. However, Tsimikas did make some forward runs and ventured into central areas.
Mohamed Salah celebrates from the floor after putting Liverpool ahead against Arsenal
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
In a different position compared to his cameo at No 9 against Real Betis, Szoboszlai played in a deeper role and was heavily involved in starting Liverpool’s attacks with precise passing. He also contributed defensively.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
It was great to see Jones return to the team after a minor injury kept him out. He played the first half in central midfield and showed some promising touches.
Harvey Elliott – 8
Elliott was undoubtedly the standout player for Liverpool in the first half, providing two fantastic assists while playing in the No 10 role. He delivered an exquisite through ball for the opener and a delightful chip for the second goal, also leading the line as a No 9 in the second half.
Mohamed Salah – 7
Salah scored with a precise finish, showcasing his sharpness with runs behind the defense, and could have had an assist if teammates had been more clinical.
Diogo Jota – 7
Although Jota missed two excellent chances—hitting the post and misdirecting another shot following a cutback from Salah—he displayed remarkable link-up play in his first match of the pre-season.
Fabio Carvalho – 7
Carvalho showed some excellent footwork and scored a well-taken goal, although he was inconsistent throughout the game. He was interestingly positioned on the left wing once again as Slot recognizes his potential in that role. Will he secure a spot in the squad this season?
Fabio Carvalho celebrates with Harvey Elliott after getting the second on the night
Substitutes
Wataru Endo (for Jones 46) – Provided protection for the defense but it was notable he didn’t start. Is Slot considering other options?
Trey Nyoni (for Jota 46) – While he didn’t make a huge impact like in Pittsburgh, he still had a few nice moments.
Luca Stephenson (for Bradley 46) – Enjoying the tour, this was his second outing after last season’s loan at Barrow.
Nat Phillips (for Quansah 71) – Likely to leave Liverpool permanently this summer, but he’s been contributing well during the tour.
Amara Nallo (for Van den Berg 71) – This was the first sighting of the young defender following his move from West Ham in 2023, and he has been impressing in training.
Owen Beck (for Tsimikas 71) – A solid performer in his loan spell last season, Beck had some good moments during his time on the pitch.
Stefan Bajcetic (for Elliott 71) – Great to see the midfielder back in action after a challenging previous season due to injury.
Tyler Morton (for Szoboszlai 71) – After a year on loan at Hull, he’s now vying for a place in Liverpool’s squad, showcasing his skills throughout the tour.
Ben Doak (for Salah 71) – Known for his direct playing style, Doak had a quieter outing in this match.
Harvey Blair (for Carvalho 71) – A formidable presence on the pitch, Blair joined Liverpool from Manchester United at age 12.
Unused substitutes: Vitek Jaros, Marcelo Pitaluga, Harvey Davies, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas.
ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS
BY ISAAN KHAN at the Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
KARL HEIN: 5.5
While he wasn’t responsible for the goals conceded, he faced a lot of action due to Arsenal’s defensive lapses in the first half. Made a critical clearance on 19 minutes by channeling a sweeper-keeper.
BEN WHITE: 6
Struggled to get involved, with much of Liverpool’s attacking focus directed through the middle or targeting the left flank, which may have led Arsenal to perceive White’s side as a tactical weakness.
JAKUB KIWIOR: 5.5
Though he initiated play with a good cross-field pass, his day started out rocky when he inadvertently played Mo Salah onside. Familiar with the center-back role, his chances may dwindle as the season approaches with Gabriel and William Saliba likely to start. He did recover well with a tackle in the second half.
GABRIEL: 5.5
Faced more challenges than usual without his usual partner Saliba. He needed to perform better for Salah’s opening goal, showing reluctance to tackle. He did, however, make a strong intervention on a counterattack.
Gabriel seemed to be more vulnerable for Arsenal without William Saliba next to him
OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO: 5.5
He struggled early on in the match as Salah exploited his side, causing concern as Liverpool’s most potent attacks came through him. However, after halftime, he ventured forward successfully following Arteta’s tactical adjustments.
THOMAS PARTEY: 5
Tasked with controlling the area in front of the defense, he often found himself defending rather than contributing offensively, resulting in additional pressure on his teammates.
KAI HAVERTZ: 6
Havertz had a subdued game but managed to make a decisive impact, scoring a well-taken goal just before half-time with a quick finish after minimal touches throughout the match.
Kai Havertz was quiet for Arsenal up until he scored just before half-time against Liverpool
MARTIN ODEGAARD: 7.5
He gained momentum throughout the game, providing a well-placed assist for Havertz’s goal by outmaneuvering Tsimikas. Odegaard was a constant threat near the box with his ability to deliver dangerous crosses, effectively controlling play in the midfield during the latter part of the match.
REISS NELSON: 5
Had a fairly quiet first half and was subsequently substituted at halftime. His highlight was a promising run and cross on 20 minutes that nearly set up a goal.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI: 7
He continued his impressive form from the match against Manchester United, displaying sharp skill with a long-range shot early in the match, and providing rapid low crosses that should have resulted in goals. He came to the US with a point to prove.
Gabriel Jesus needs to sharpen his shooting for Arsenal before the start of the new season
GABRIEL JESUS: 6
Showed promise with his dynamic play but struggled with finishing. He made multiple attempts to close down goalkeeper Kelleher, coming close to scoring in the first few minutes. His dribbling was on display, though getting shots on target was difficult. He made a solid effort to connect with a cross from Martinelli in the first half.
Manager: MIKEL ARTETA: 6
Fielded a relatively strong lineup for the final pre-season match in the U.S. against tough opponents. It might have been beneficial to give younger talents like Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly more playing time, though such considerations must be made alongside their development needs.
