Liverpool’s second pre-season friendly of the summer ended with a 2-1 win over Arsenal in Philadelphia. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho gave the Reds a two-goal cushion before Kai Havertz pulled one back for the Gunners.
The match started brightly for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 13th minute after a brilliant long ball from Caoimhin Kelleher found Diogo Jota. Jota set up Harvey Elliott, who delivered a precise pass to Salah. The winger made no mistake in converting the opportunity.
Liverpool doubled their lead with a second goal from Fabio Carvalho. Elliott once again played a crucial role, providing a clever dinked pass from the edge of the box that Carvalho finished with composure.
Arsenal managed to pull one back just before halftime when Kai Havertz tapped home after good work from Martin Ødegaard. Despite this late first-half goal, Arsenal struggled to break down Liverpool’s defense in the second half.
The second period saw numerous changes from both sides, which impacted the flow of the game. Arsenal had a few chances to equalize, including a notable save by Kelleher from Fabio Vieira and a missed header by Gabriel Jesus. However, Liverpool’s defense held strong and ensured they would secure the win.
Diogo Jota, who joined the squad in the U.S. on Thursday, started the match. Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate were also present but did not feature, having reported for duty only recently after their European Championship commitments with Holland and France.
Liverpool now look ahead to their next pre-season fixture against Manchester United in Columbia on Saturday, with United dealing with significant injury issues. The Reds will be eager to build on their positive performance as they continue their preparations for the new season.
