Mohamed Salah is back to his best, but Arsenal need a striker! Winners & losers as Arne Slot's Reds edge Mikel Arteta's side in pre-season clash

Sometimes football is simple. One team converts their opportunities, and another one doesn't. That's ultimately what separated Liverpool and Arsenal when they faced off in Philadelphia on Wednesday as both teams' tour of the United States continued.

Liverpool had a clinical finisher in Mohamed Salah who could bury a chance at any given moment, while the Gunners could only count on a collection of hesitant forwards. It has long been a criticism of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal that they lack a true centre-forward, but at times it's a bit of a footballing cop-out, an oversimplification of something very complex. In this case, though it was clear as a more deadly Liverpool beat the Gunners, 2-1.

Arne Slot put out something nearing a full-strength side, relying on Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho to lead his forward line. And that trio made an impact, while the fresher Gunners trident of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz fell flat.

Liverpool opened the scoring after 13 minutes, Salah running onto Harvey Elliott's through ball before finishing into the bottom corner. Jota could have doubled the lead after 30 minutes, but smashed his shot off the post from close range. Carvalho made no such mistake five minutes later, though, volleying home from close range off a clever flick from Elliott.

Arsenal responded, as Havertz bundled home from close range after a clever Martin Odegaard pass. They had further chances, but hesitance in the final third - and poor decisions inside the box - saw the Gunners rendered relatively toothless.

The rest of the game collapsed into a drab kickabout as the managers introduced fresh legs in the second half. Still, it was the key moments that illuminated it all, Salah and co burying their opportunities, while Arsenal's main men faltered.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Lincoln Financial Field...