Liverpool v Arsenal talking points as Harvey Elliott and Gabriel Jesus impress in USA
Liverpool beat Arsenal at the Lincoln Financial Field - the home of the Philadelphia Eagles - as the Reds made it two wins from two games in the US as Gunners head for home
Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho scored the goals as Liverpool beat Arsenal in front of a record football crowd at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Reds were worthy winners after an entertaining first-half was followed by a second period which soon fizzled out in front of 69,879 fans at the NFL stadium.
Harvey Elliott was the standout performer in the game as he provided the two assists. Liverpool took the lead when Diogo Jota knocked down a long ball forward from Caoimhin Kellher. Elliott got on it and slid Salah through with the Egyptian finding the bottom corner with a fine finish.
Elliott's assist for the second was even more impressive as he lifted the ball over the Gunners back four for Carvalho to run onto and he fired home a volley to double the lead for Arne Slot's team.
READ MORE: Transfer news recap: Julian Alvarez nears City exit, Guehi bid, Gallagher agrees Atletico moveREAD MORE: Liverpool tour diary: Young Reds star lifts lid on Virgil van Dijk influence as extra friendly plannedKai Havertz did manage to pull one back for Arsenal before the break after the Gunners had been denied by some fine defending by Jarrell Quansah. The Gunners man turned home Martin Odegaard's deflected cross after the Norway star had turned Kostas Tsimikas before the break.
Both sides began to make changes at half-time which led to an inevitable drop in intensity on a sweltering night in the US city.
Harvey Elliott impressing
The midfielder said the other day he needs to be more ‘selfish’ to nail down a regular starting spot in the Liverpool team. But it is his creative influence for others which was on display here and the Kop ace was so impressive in his time on the pitch.
Two superb passes - the second particularly noteworthy - created the goals for Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho. While he could have had a hat-trick of assists if Diogo Jota had his shooting boots on in the first-half.
If he’s looking to impress new boss Arne Slot, this was a perfect performance from him.
Slot switch machine
With Diogo Jota available having teamed up with the Reds later in the tour, Slot could have a more focal point in the attack than the friendly against Real Betis the other night.
That meant a switch in formation from 4-2-4 to 4-2-3-1 with Dominik Szoboszlai going from a forward role last week, to a deep-lying midfield position here.
It also meant Elliott dropped back to a No 10 and he was very dangerous in that area as he found space between Arsenal’s defence and midfield.
When Jota went off at the break, Liverpool switched to a 4-3-3. After nine years of Klopp mostly playing one formation, could Slot be more tactically flexible or is he just making do with the players he has got at the moment while he waits for a fully fit squad.
Jarrell Quansah is getting better
There’s a spot up for grabs beside Virgil van Dijk this season you feel and Quansah is surely in pole position to grab it.
The young defender’s emergence last summer meant the Reds didn’t need to dip into the transfer market and spend on a centre-back as they had proper cover. But now Quansah may have graduated to starting line-up on a regular basis.
This was a fine performance from the defender as he stopped a certain goal with a superb tackle to deny Gabriel Jesus after Gabriel Martinelli slid a cross in.He’s looking like a superb defender.
Gabriel Jesus is looking sharp
It was somewhat of a disappointing second season for the Brazilian at Arsenal last term as he lost his place to Kai Havertz when more injuries scuppered him and his form nose-dived.
The Gunners front man was buzzing around early here and chasing down every ball trying to force errors and he did on numerous occasions. He would have got a goal but for the superb defending of Quansah to deny him a tap in but he looked a threat throughout the game.
Jesus needs to step up this season and increase his goal tally if he wants to keep his starting spot.
Ben White v Fabio Carvalho
It wasn’t the easiest night for the Arsenal full-back against Carvalho. The Liverpool forward got the better of the more experienced defender throughout his time on the pitch.
White even left one on the winger as he bundled him off the pitch and sent him crashing into the water bottles by the Arsenal dugout. It was another impressive performance from the Portuguese youngster who is hoping to stay at Liverpool this season and fight for his place in the starting line-up.
White was good going forward to be fair but didn’t have an easy evening going the other way. Carvalho wasn't tracked when he coasted inside to get the second goal for the Reds.
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