Liverpool turned in a good display to signal that they can still go toe-to-toe with the best sides in the Premier League on Thursday.
Of course, you cannot and should not read too much into pre-season friendlies, whoever they are against.
But it’s safe to say that a win over Arsenal will do wonders for the confidence around Anfield heading into the new season.
Arne Slot got his tactics right against the Gunners to resign them to a friendly defeat in Philadelphia.
But while Mikel Arteta praised Slot and his set-up after the game, the Liverpool boss was helped by some outstanding individual performances, too.
Gary McAllister raves about Jarell Quansah
There were certainly some strong performances from those in red against Arsenal.
Harvey Elliott turned on the magic by providing two excellent assists, while Mohamed Salah showed that he will still be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Diogo Jota earned praise from Slot for his first outing in Liverpool’s new system and there were some good run-outs for many of the Reds’ youngsters.
One player who – although still only 21 – can perhaps no longer be classed as a prospect in need of assessing is Jarell Quansah.
Despite the performances of Elliott, Salah, Jota and more, Quansah was the player fans were raving about after the Arsenal game.
The best moment of the game for the academy graduate came with the score still level at 0-0. Gabriel Martinelli was through on goal and only had to square it across the six-yard box for Gabriel Jesus to score a tap in.
READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings vs Arsenal as ‘fantastic’ player runs the show
As Martinelli released his pass, though, Quansah came out of nowhere. The centre-back slid to block the ball and even shielded it for Caoimhin Kelleher to gather.
It was an excellent bit of defending and speaking on LFCTV, former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister applauded the efforts of Quansah.
“Just poise,” McAllister raved. “He’s comfortable on the ball and this is proper defending. Jesus had the run on him but he keeps going, gets back goal side and this is wonderful, wonderful defending. It doesn’t get any better than that.
“It’s last-ditch and he could easily have put it in his own net but to hook it back for Kelleher to get it was top draw.”
Is Jarell Quansah Liverpool’s starting centre-back?
One of the questions for Slot heading into his first season at Anfield is what he does with his back four.
Liverpool ended the season with many people expecting them to dip into the transfer market for a centre-back. But as that is yet to happen, we have to assume that the Reds are happy with what they have.
Joe Gomez could still leave in which case you’d assume another would have to be brought in. But Sepp van den Berg also did well against Arsenal and should maybe be kept around.
Taking Gomez out of the picture, that would leave Quansah, Van den Berg, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s options.
Quansah ended the season with the shirt next to Van Dijk and you’d have to say that, at the moment, the onus is really on Konate to wrestle it back off him.
In our opinion, Quansah has done enough in these opening two games to give Slot no reason to take him out.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
