We’re looking at more Fantasy takeaways from the penultimate weekend of pre-season friendlies in our Scout Notes.
Here, we focus on Liverpool v Monaco and Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund.
LIVERPOOL 2-3 Monaco
- Goals: Isak, Wirtz
- Assists: Gravenberch, Isak
Liverpool XI: Alisson (Mamardashvili 46), Frimpong (Ramsey 75), Ndukwe (Endo 46), van Dijk (Chambers 60), Tsimikas (Kerkez 60), Szoboszlai (Elliott 75), Gravenberch (McConnell 60), Koumas (Chiesa 75), Wirtz (Nyoni 60), Gakpo (Ngumoha 60), Isak (Munoz 60)
- It was a tale of two halves at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool led 2-1 at half-time, but experienced a rapid drop-off after the break.
- Alisson Becker (£5.5m), Virgil van Dijk (£6.5m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.0m) made their first appearances of pre-season, while for the second successive friendly, Alexander Isak (£9.0m) led the line with Florian Wirtz (£7.5m) in the ‘10’.
- Liverpool’s attack looked really sharp for 45 minutes. Isak netted the opener with a well-taken finish, before Wirtz swept home the second after a goalmouth scramble. The hosts were unable to sustain their level, however, as Monaco fought back to win 3-2.
“I think we are, right now, especially considering we won the first two games but the last two we cannot sustain the level that we want for all the game. As soon as we have made some changes they start to get tired, we cannot sustain that level, so we have work to do.” – Andoni Iraola
- Despite defeat, it was an encouraging display from Liverpool’s front two. Isak looked sharp and delivered his first attacking returns of pre-season, while Wirtz found plenty of space between the lines, scored and forced a decent save from the Monaco ‘keeper, with four shots in total.
“I feel good, I feel good. Every game hopefully should take me to a better fitness level, so that’s what I’m working towards. I think today felt better than [the] last game and hopefully the next game feels better than today. That’s what pre-season is for – building – and that’s what we have to keep doing.” – Alexander Isak
- It was a quieter afternoon for Dominik Szoboszlai (£7.0m), who played in central midfield alongside Ryan Gravenberch (£6.0m) before pushing further forward late on. He failed to have a shot but did produce three key passes.
- Andoni Iraola made six substitutions on the hour mark, with Victor Munoz (£6.5m) sent on for his Liverpool debut.
- Defensively, however, there were issues. 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe partnered van Dijk at the back and was solid for the most part, but the Reds let a two-goal lead slip for the second successive pre-season friendly.
- Iraola at least hopes to have Jeremy Jacquet (£5.0m) back for next weekend’s clash against Como. Ronald Araujo should arrive from Barcelona on loan too, so reinforcements are on the way.
“Jeremy Jacquet, we were in doubt whether to put him [in the squad] today, we decided not but he should be fine for the next one. It is taking a little bit of time, as we expected. Curtis [Jones], he has trained every day but yesterday finished with issues in the hip. It doesn’t look anything big but it didn’t make any sense to risk and those are the ones, more or less, closer to a return.” – Andoni Iraola
ARSENAL 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Goals: Nwaneri, Gyokeres pen
- Assists: Tzolis x2
Arsenal XI: Kepa (Meslier 46), White (O’Neill 77), Mosquera (Ogunnaike 77), Gabriel (Hincapie 60), Calafiori (Salmon 60), Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard (Nwaneri 32, Viera 77), Havertz (Martinelli 77), Dowman (Julienne 77), Tzolis (Ibrahim 77), Gyokeres (Jesus 77)
- Despite having a greater share of possession (56.5%) and registering 14 shots to eight, Arsenal were beaten 3-2 by Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
- Mikel Arteta made two alterations to his starting XI from the previous friendly, a 3-1 loss to Real Betis: Gabriel Magalhaes (£8.0m) and Martin Odegaard (£6.5m) in for Piero Hincapie (£5.5m) and Ethan Nwaneri (£5.5m). Odegaard played for just over 30 minutes before a pre-planned substitution, having only recently returned from the World Cup with Norway.
- The Gunners lined up with Ben White (£5.5m), Cristhian Mosquera (£5.5m), Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.5m) at the back, with Myles Lewis-Skelly (£5.5m) anchoring the midfield. However, they were a bit of a mess defensively and went in at half-time 2-0 down. They’ve now conceded six times across their last two friendly matches.
“… I think there were some poor moments where we were not very recognisable, especially in set-pieces and defending actions and timings that we are normally very efficient [in].” – Mikel Arteta
- White did at least look decent offensively from right-back. Given Jurrien Timber’s (£6.5m) injury, he could have a bigger part to play at the start of the season. The same applies to Mosquera, unless Arsenal sign a new centre-back, of course.
“No, I cannot be very precise with that. Jurrien is progressing really well. He’s on the pitch, he’s doing quite a lot right now, but it’s still weeks away. I cannot tell you how much.
“William Saliba is in rest mode at the moment for two weeks. He had to do almost nothing, an aggravated injury, so it’s going to take some time to heal. We know that. And as soon as we have more news, we can inform you.” – Mikel Arteta on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba’s injuries
- Nwaneri pulled one back for Arsenal after the break. Viktor Gyokeres (£7.5m) then netted from the penalty spot, with Christos Tzolis (£6.5m) getting another assist. On some set-pieces, the Greek winger was a real livewire down the left flank, and has now delivered five attacking returns in pre-season. One of Arsenal’s clear standout performers, he could well be a starter against Coventry City in Gameweek 1.
“Really strong. I think he looks fit, he looks confident, he looks sharp. He made the assist, he created a penalty, he had another two or three very good moments. His work rate is unbelievable so far – very good things.” – Mikel Arteta on Christos Tzolis
- Elsewhere, Kai Havertz (£7.5m) got another start in midfield but failed to make much of an impact. Gyokeres, meanwhile, attempted four shots but was often clumsy in possession and didn’t have a good game.
- As for Lewis-Skelly, he had to play as a No 6 simply because so many other midfielders aren’t available yet. That changes from Monday, with Declan Rice (£7.5m), Martin Zubimendi (£5.5m), Bruno Guimaraes (£7.0m) and Mikel Merino (£6.0m), plus several others, set to re-join the squad.
“Well, some of them were back today, already watching the game. Some of them, David [Raya] and Bukayo [Saka], were back yesterday, a bit earlier than expected, which is great to see. I think it’s a really good sign and tomorrow everybody will be available to start the training programme.” – Mikel Arteta
- Arsenal’s pre-season preparations come to an end on Wednesday, when they face Como at the Emirates Stadium. Then, it’s the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday.
