Liverpool vs Arsenal: Match Preview | Pre-Season 2024

Aarush
By afcaarush
7 Min Read

Liverpool will face Premier League rivals Arsenal in Pennsylvania on Thursday in a preseason test, as both teams fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of the upcoming season.

New manager Arne Slot has managed to begin his era with a pleasant victory against Real Betis in Pittsburgh. A lone goal from Szoboszlai made The Reds victorious in their first friendly for the season. Slot’s Liverpool will see this match against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as a valuable challenge before the season kicks off.

Meanwhile, for Arsenal, the USA pre-season tour has given good momentum, a draw vs Bournemouth and a statement win against Manchester United. Going into the game against Liverpool, Arsenal would look to continue their fine form and pull off a favourable result before they travel back home for the Emirates Cup fixtures before their campaign begins against Wolves. A mix of youth players and senior players impressing on the tour will give Arteta lots of options to vary from to play vs Liverpool.

Pre-season games are known to be trailers, typically trial and error methods in order to prepare for what is to be expected from the sides in the upcoming season. A game that will be taken with equal status to prove the progress being made under the lights off-season.

When & Where?

Date: 1st August 2024, Thursday.
Time: 12:30 AM BST.
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA.

Liverpool vs Arsenal – Team News

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For Liverpool, Curtis Jones will be a doubt for the match as he went off injured in the previous game vs Betis. Additionally, they will be without a few key players who played their part in Euro 2024 and Copa America. This leaves Liverpool’s squad a bit weakened and would force Slot to play majority of the younger academy boys.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya who played their part in the recent Euro 24. However, Arsenal’s latest summer signing Riccardo Calafiori is in contention to make his debut for the club.

Arsenal’s versatile defender Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney have not traveled with the squad as they are managing injuries in London. Nonetheless, Arsenal’s roster includes a promising group of youth players who have performed well when given the opportunity.

Pre-Match Tactical Analysis

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Arne Slot’s setup for Liverpool has shown signs of dominating possession – the recent 63% possession they controlled vs Betis. Slot’s setup allows him to create passing lanes and makes it comfortable for his players to receive between the lines – very effective in baiting the press and the central route becomes easy to progress. However, Liverpool will prepare for the fixture without most of their lethal ammunition, relying majorly on the few superstar names and young guns to perform vs the Gunners.

Arsenal’s final fixture in USA vs Liverpool could mean that they could go with a stronger lineup than the usual that they’ve setup. Nevertheless, the quality and depth some of the academy boys have shown when deployed could see them get their minutes; namely Hein, Nwaneri, Lewis Skelly, Heaven and Salah being the most impressive.

Arteta’s tactical experiments in the first two games have been vividly displayed, the Nwaneri free role in the front line or even Timber’s partnership with Heaven that majorly helps in playing out from the back – all these tactics show are control and dominance. Martinelli is expected to start after a lively performance off the bench from LW that proved to be the winner vs Man United.

Nevertheless, pre-season is all about experiments and improvements and the utilisation of the whole squad. Youth players from both setups will look to emerge ahead of others and impress their respective managers with the given opportunity. The unpredictable nature of this game should see both teams lock horns and go head to head to be yet another thrilling pre-season friendly between the two giants.

Key Players

Dominik Szoboszlai

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The Hungarian hasn’t had the most ideal starts in his tenure at Liverpool since signing for them but the Slot’s usage of him in his favoured positions can get the best out of him. An exquisite finish against Real Betis in the friendlies has certainly made people speak of him highly. Often doing the job of receiving between the lines in build-up play and orchestrating for his team – he mixes up his vision and creativity to play key passes on both flanks and also feeds them to Jota ahead. Someone to surely keep eye on in the fixture vs Arsenal.

Ethan Nwaneri

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The highly talented and talked-off Hale End graduate is a complete package of entertainment every time he gets on the ball. Only 17 y/o, but the confidence and composure he has makes you question it. It’s his versatility and silky ball manipulation that catches everyone’s eyes, and effortlessly glides past players in any position he plays. Already played at RW, AMF and LCM this pre-season for Arsenal and is looking very sharp with the minutes he’s been given.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Liverpool: Hein; White, Timber, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Nwaneri, Odegaard; Jesus, Havertz, Martinelli.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs Arsenal: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van den Berg, Tsimikas; Endo, Morton; Salah, Szoboszlai, Elliott; Jota.

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