In an exciting pre-season match in Philadelphia, Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Premier League rivals Arsenal. Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho were the scorers for the Reds, while Kai Havertz managed to pull one back for Arsenal.
Despite Arsenal’s efforts, they couldn’t find the equalizer.
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will have plenty of positives to take away from this game, while Arsenal’s standout players were Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Caoimhin Kelleher – 6.5
It was a mixed night for Kelleher. Early on, he nearly gifted Arsenal a goal with a risky pass, but he otherwise delivered some impressive distribution.
Conor Bradley – 6.5
Bradley wasn’t as involved offensively as he was in the previous game against Real Betis. However, he had a solid defensive performance, particularly against Gabriel Martinelli.
Jarell Quansah – 7.5
Quansah made a strong case for a starting spot in the Premier League opener. He was composed and effective defensively, making key tackles and interceptions.
Sepp van den Berg – 7
Van den Berg had a solid game, highlighted by a crucial tackle on Gabriel Jesus early in the match. His performance should help his case regarding his £20 million valuation.
Kostas Tsimikas – 5
Tsimikas struggled defensively, particularly against Martin Odegaard, who scored Arsenal’s only goal. While he did make some forward runs, his defensive performance was lacking.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
Szoboszlai played in a deeper midfield role and was influential in starting attacks. He handled defensive duties well and provided tidy passes.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
Jones made a welcome return to the team after a minor injury. He had some good moments in midfield but was not as impactful as he could be.
Harvey Elliott – 8
Elliott was Liverpool’s standout player, contributing two assists in the first half. He created a beautiful through ball and a superb chip for the second goal, and continued to impress when he moved to a more advanced role in the second half.
Mohamed Salah – 7
Salah took his goal with precision and looked sharp throughout. He was a constant threat with his runs and could have added an assist if his teammates had been more clinical.
Diogo Jota – 7
Jota had a few missed chances but showed good link-up play. This was his first pre-season game, so a bit of rust was expected.
Fabio Carvalho – 7
Carvalho scored a well-taken goal but was inconsistent throughout the match. Slot’s decision to use him on the left wing will be interesting to follow.
Substitutes
Wataru Endo (for Jones 46) – Shielded the defense effectively, though it’s clear Slot is still evaluating his role.
Trey Nyoni (for Jota 46) – Didn’t shine as brightly as in previous games but still had some nice touches.
Luca Stephenson (for Bradley 46) – Enjoying his tour experience, Stephenson made his second appearance after a loan spell.
Nat Phillips (for Quansah 71) – Likely to leave Liverpool this summer, but he’s contributing well on this tour.
Amara Nallo (for Van den Berg 71) – Impressed in his first appearance after joining from West Ham.
Owen Beck (for Tsimikas 71) – Had some good moments after spending last season on loan.
Stefan Bajcetic (for Elliott 71) – It’s good to see Bajcetic back in action after a difficult season with injuries.
Tyler Morton (for Szoboszlai 71) – After a loan at Hull, Morton is competing for his place in the team with solid cameo performances.
Ben Doak (for Salah 71) – The young winger showed his direct style, though he was quiet in this game.
Harvey Blair (for Carvalho 71) – Blair made his presence felt, bringing physicality to the game.
Unused Substitutes: Vitek Jaros, Marcelo Pitaluga, Harvey Davies, Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Karl Hein – 5.5
Hein had little to do due to Arsenal’s defensive issues but made a good clearance in a sweeper-keeper role.
Ben White – 6
White was relatively quiet and didn’t have much impact defensively, with Liverpool’s attacks focusing elsewhere.
Jakub Kiwior – 5.5
Kiwior had a shaky start, including playing Salah onside for Liverpool’s first goal, but improved later with a good tackle.
Gabriel – 5.5
Gabriel struggled without his usual partner, Saliba. He was hesitant for Salah’s goal but made a crucial tackle later.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 5.5
Zinchenko had a tough time against Salah and Liverpool’s attacks. However, he made some good forward runs after the break.
Thomas Partey – 5
Partey had a challenging game, overwhelmed by Liverpool’s midfield and often found himself covering defensively.
Kai Havertz – 6
Havertz had a quiet game until he scored a tidy goal, making an impact despite not seeing much of the ball.
Martin Odegaard – 7.5
Odegaard was Arsenal’s best performer, providing a superb assist for Havertz’s goal and creating chances with his playmaking.
Reiss Nelson – 5
Nelson had a quiet game and was substituted at halftime. His best moment was a solid run and cross in the first half.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
Martinelli looked sharp, creating several chances and testing Liverpool’s defense with his pace and skill.
Gabriel Jesus – 6
Jesus showed promise but struggled with finishing. He put pressure on Liverpool’s Kelleher but couldn’t convert chances.
Manager: Mikel Arteta – 6
Arteta fielded a strong lineup but might have benefited from integrating younger players like Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly earlier in the game. Balancing experience with youth remains a key challenge.
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