Dj Vnyash
Mo Salah and Fabio Carvalho netted goals in the first half, leading Liverpool to a 2-1 win over Arsenal on Wednesday, while Chelsea triumphed and Manchester United narrowly defeated Real Betis 3-2 in pre-season matches. Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in front of a crowd of 69,879 at the home ground of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
In other friendly matches across the United States, Chelsea defeated Mexico’s Club America 3-0, AC Milan won 1-0 against Real Madrid, and Manchester United edged past Real Betis 3-2.
Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 13th minute, using his speed to chase down a defense-splitting pass from Harvey Elliott. The striker evaded Arsenal defender Gabriel and struck a low left-footed shot past goalkeeper Karl Hein.
Carvalho extended Liverpool’s lead in the 34th minute, again assisted by Elliott. The 21-year-old Portuguese winger expertly collected a well-placed lofted pass from Elliott and fired a precise right-foot volley through Hein’s legs.
Arsenal pulled one back in the 40th minute, with Havertz scoring from close range after Martin Odegaard found him in the six-yard box.
A goalless second half secured the victory for Liverpool’s new Dutch manager, Arne Slot, who has taken over from Jurgen Klopp. Arsenal’s newly signed Italian defender, 22-year-old Riccardo Calafiori, did not feature in the lineup.
In San Diego, Real Betis took an early lead with a goal from Iker Losada in the 15th minute. However, the advantage lasted only three minutes as Romain Perraud fouled Manchester United’s Amad Diallo in the box, allowing Marcus Rashford to score from the penalty spot.
Diallo then put United ahead in the 24th minute, and Casemiro added a third with a left-footed shot from a Rashford assist in the 31st minute, ending the half 3-1 in their favor. Diego Llorente pulled one back for Betis with a header in the 61st minute.
In Atlanta, Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku scored a penalty in the third minute, setting the tone for their match against the Mexican club. Spanish teenager Marc Guiu added a second with a header in the 21st minute, and winger Noni Madueke converted another penalty in the 79th minute to secure a 3-0 win.
In Chicago, Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze’s goal in the 55th minute led AC Milan to a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.
