Liverpool concluded their pre-season tour in the United States with an emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester United in South Carolina.
Goals from Fabio Carvalho and Curtis Jones in the first half, followed by a strike from Kostas Tsimikas just past the hour mark, sealed the victory.
Erik ten Hag’s squad now faces considerable challenges before their Community Shield match against Manchester City next week, having secured only two wins from their five pre-season outings.
The Reds asserted their dominance early, with Carvalho finding the net in the 10th minute, delivering a precise left-footed shot inside the penalty area.
Liverpool’s relentless pressure paid off again nine minutes before the break, when Mohamed Salah assisted Jones for a straightforward finish, underscoring Liverpool’s superiority in the opening half.
Slot’s men confirmed their third consecutive win on American soil with an impressive performance.
A fluid attacking move saw Diogo Jota force a save from United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana, with Tsimikas seizing the opportunity to score from the rebound.
This clinical display of Liverpool’s attacking capabilities highlighted the team’s successful pre-season tour.
Tsimikas was a standout performer for Liverpool, recording the highest number of shots, two, most shots on target, two, and equal most touches in the opposition box, three.
Despite United creating more attacking opportunities statistically, Liverpool’s defense remained resolute as Slot continued to effectively implement his tactical approach.
Manchester United struggled in the absence of key forwards Rasmus Hojlund and new signing Joshua Zirkzee, leading to inefficiency in front of goal.
They underperformed their expected goals by 1.45, managing only eight shots on target out of 18 attempts.
This lack of finishing touch highlighted critical areas for improvement before their competitive fixtures.
Challenges Ahead for Manchester United
With only two wins from five pre-season matches, Ten Hag has significant work ahead to prepare his team for the competitive season.
The absence of pivotal players like Hojlund and Zirkzee was glaringly apparent in their subdued performance against Liverpool.
Enhancing their goal-scoring efficiency will be vital for their success in the upcoming matches.
