Arne Slot’s revamped Liverpool triumphed over Premier League adversaries Arsenal 2-1 in Philadelphia, with Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho scoring.
Salah’s goal in the 13th minute and Carvalho’s strike in the 34th highlighted Liverpool’s impressive play, while Arsenal’s Kai Havertz netted a close-range effort in the 40th minute of a thrilling first half.
In the second half of the friendly, both teams made substitutions, and the intensity lessened at Lincoln Financial Field, where a record crowd of 69,679 attended.
Liverpool will conclude their US pre-season tour with a match against Manchester United in Columbia on Saturday (00:45 BST Sunday). Arsenal returned home directly after Wednesday’s game and will participate in a friendly tournament against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon at Emirates Stadium.
**Elliott’s Potential Breakthrough Season?**
Harvey Elliott, whose former England Under-21 teammates have recently advanced to the senior squad, acknowledged the need for his own breakthrough before the match.
The 21-year-old had a solid performance in a lackluster 1-0 friendly win against Real Betis, but stood out in an attacking midfield role against Arsenal.
Had Diogo Jota not missed a prime opportunity, Elliott could have had a hat-trick of excellent first-half assists, including a superb first-time pass for Salah’s goal and a precise lobbed pass for Carvalho.
Slot’s style and vision for a number 10 role seem to suit Elliott well, a versatile player aiming to establish himself at the top level.
If Elliott can transition from being Jurgen Klopp’s utility player to a regular in Slot’s new system, an England debut might follow.
Regarding Elliott, Slot commented, “He provided two great assists, but the team also created those opportunities for him by playing out from the back and positioning him effectively. It’s up to him to capitalize on those situations, and he did so today. However, if I’m being critical, there were a couple of instances where he could have done better, but that’s due to what the team does for him.”
