Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal – PLAYER RATINGS: Which Reds defender put forward a serious case to start their Premier League opener? Which Gunner is playing with a point to prove? And which over-ran midfielder scored 5/10?

Arne Slot and Liverpool defeated Premier League rivals Arsenal 2-1 in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead and Fabio Carvalho doubled their lead before Kai Havertz added another goal for Arsenal, but an equaliser failed to materialise.

Mail Sport reporters in Philadelphia, Lewis Steele and Isaan Khan, provide player ratings for the match.

LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS

BY LEWIS STEELE at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Caoimhin Kelleher – 6.5

A strange night for the Irish goalkeeper. He nearly cost his team a goal in the opening two minutes when he stayed on the ball too long and an attempted pass hit striker Gabriel Jesus and bounced just wide of the goal. But otherwise some excellent passes.

Conor Bradley – 6.5

Not as involved in the attack as against Real Betis, where he went off with an apparent knock. But still some nice moments, especially defensively when he came through a tough test against Gabriel Martinelli.

Jarell Quansah – 7.5

Making a serious case to start against Ipswich in the Premier League opener. Calm on the ball and always in the right place defensively. Quansah did well to tackle Kai Havertz and then made a last desperate interception.

Sepp van den Berg – 7

Made a great tackle on Gabriel Jesus in the opening stages and put in another solid shift. He complained earlier this week that his £20m valuation is too high – but he’s certainly not doing himself any favours if he wants it lowered.

Kostas Tsimikas – 5

Beaten far too easily by Martin Odegaard for Arsenal’s first goal. Left-back feels like an area Liverpool need to improve in the next 18 months as Andy Robertson isn’t getting any younger. Tsimikas made some nice runs forward and also rotated in the centre.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 7

Played in a different position to his cameo at No. 9 against Real Betis, where he played in a deeper midfield role. The Hungary captain received a lot of possession and initiated many Reds attacks, with some neat passes into tight spaces. Also initiated a defensive shift.

Curtis Jones – 6.5

Good to see Jones back in the team after being forced off with a minor injury in Pittsburgh. The midfielder played the first half in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield and had some nice moves.

Harvey Elliott-8

By far the star player for Liverpool in the first half with two great assists. Elliott played in the role of number 10 and looked a constant threat, with a beautiful through ball for the opening goal and then a wonderful chip for the Reds’ second. Led the line as number 9 in the second half.

Mohammed Salah – 7

He took his goal very well with a clinical finish as you would expect. The Liverpool captain looks very sharp with his runs in behind and he might have added an assist if his team-mates had their shooting boots on.

Diogo Jota – 7

Missed two golden chances in the first half – hitting the post with one and missing another attempted shot after a Salah back pass – but you can forgive the Portugal international for being rusty given this was his first outing in pre-season. Lovely interplay.

Fabio Carvalho – 7

Had some nice touches and took his goal extremely well but faded in and out of the game. It was interesting to see him back on the left wing. Slot has told the Portuguese-born star that he sees his best position as a winger. Can he break into the team this year?

Substitutes

Wataru Endo (for Jones 46) – Protected the defense well, but it was telling that he didn’t start. Does Slot have an eye on him?

Trey Nyoni (for Jota 46) – He didn’t quite turn the game up as he did the other night in Pittsburgh, but Nyoni still did some nice things.

Luca Stephenson (for Bradley 46) – He will enjoy every second of this tour. This is his second appearance after a loan spell at Barrow last season.

Nat Phillips (for Quansah 71) – Will almost certainly leave Liverpool permanently this summer, but he’s doing well on this tour.

Amara Nallo (for Van den Berg 71) – The first time we’ve seen the young defender since his move from West Ham in 2023, as he impresses the coaches in training.

Owen Beck (for Tsimikas 71) – The left back, who was also loaned out last season, made some nice impressions in this cameo.

Stefan Bajcetic (for Elliott 71) – Good to see the midfielder fit and healthy after a terrible season last season with injuries.

Tyler Morton (for Szoboszlai 71) – Loaned to Hull last year and now fighting for his place at Liverpool. Two great cameos on this tour.

Ben Doak (for Salah 71) – Lightning Bolt winger is super direct and always wants to beat his man. Quiet night here, you hear.

Harvey Blair (for Carvalho 71) – Big boy throws his weight around. Came to Liverpool from Manchester United at the age of 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 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

KARL HEIN: 5.5

Was not responsible for the goals conceded and had to deal with a lot of action in his area due to Arsenal’s defensive gaps in the first half. Made a good intervention in the 19th minute to clear the ball from a sweeper-keeper style attacker.

BEN WIT: 6

Didn’t get much of the ball and neither had any notable moments in defence as the Liverpool attack went straight through the middle or focused on the left flank. The opposition perhaps identified White’s team as the stronger of the two.

JAKUB KIWIOR: 5.5

Made a good cross field pass early on, but struggled after playing Mo Salah onside for Liverpool’s first goal. Centre-back is the position he’s most used to, and who knows when he’ll get another chance there when the season starts — thanks to Gabriel’s partnership with William Saliba. Made a good recovery tackle in the 64th minute and played better in the second period.

GABRIEL: 5.5

Clearly found this task more difficult than usual, having to play without his trusted partner Saliba, with whom he has a telepathic understanding. Should have done better for Salah’s opening goal, hesitated to tackle him before he scored. Made a great tackle on the counter in the 68th minute.

OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO: 5.5

The first 15 minutes of the game Mo Salah gave him a headache, especially on the overlap. The fact that Liverpool’s best attacks happened to coincide with his flank was worrying. But he made some nice bursts forward after Mikel Arteta changed the formation at half-time.

THOMAS PARTY: 5

Given the Declan Rice-style task of guarding the area in front of the back line. Often found as a substitute at the back in the middle of waves of attack. But in the middle he was completely overwhelmed, which increased the pressure on his defenders.

KAI HAVERTZ: 6

As often seen with German, he can play a quiet game and then suddenly emerge with a decisive moment. Here he barely had any contact with the ball until his goal in the 40th minute, a neat finish with quick feet in front of goal.

MARTIN ODEGAARD: 7.5

Warmed up as the game progressed. Produced a nice assist for Havertz’s goal, turning Kostas Tsimikas inside out. Often looked menacing on the edge of the box with his ability to whip in menacing crosses. That quarterback style of play, where he essentially dictates the pace in the middle, came to the fore in the second half.

TRIP NELSON: 5

A quiet first half and then he was substituted on the break, his only highlight being a solid run down the wing and a cross in the 20th minute that almost resulted in a shot on goal.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI: 7

Picked up where he left off against Manchester United and looked sharp. Unleashed an early shot from distance and then made a couple of low, quick crosses after cutting back that should have resulted in a goal. He’s come to the US to prove a point.

GABRIEL JESUS: 6

Showed a lot of promise and was a real handful, but not with his finishing. Kept goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher at bay on several occasions, with his intervention on three minutes going just wide of the post. Used his dribbling skills but struggled to get shots off. Was eager to finish Martinelli’s cross in the first half.

Manager: MIKEL ARTÉTA: 6

Played a reasonably strong team from the selection he had here in this last US pre-season game against capable opponents. It would have been worth starting or replacing one of the promising young players earlier, such as Ethan Nwaneri or Myles Lewis-Skelly. Although that has to be balanced with not exposing them too much.