Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA has come to a close with the Reds recording three wins from three.It looked like a tough calendar for Liverpool, with Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United on the agenda.
However, things could hardly have gone better for Arne Slot in his first official games in charge. Two rivals beaten and no injuries sustained.
Although Slot has not had his full Liverpool squad to work with, there have still been clear signs that the Dutchman has been getting his message across to those who have been playing.And as the curtain falls on Liverpool in the US, Reds icon John Barnes has named the most impressive performer of the trip.
John Barnes singles out Jarell QuansahSlot used 27 different players all in all across Liverpool’s three games. With so many of the first-team still missing, many of those were academy players.
Within that, there were lots of standouts. Trey Nyoni wowed Liverpool fans after his performance against Real Betis and the 17-year-old looked assured throughout the tour.Another young player to have done really well has been Fabio Carvalho.
Carvalho scored against both Arsenal and then United in what will have been a huge boost to his confidence.There were other good displays, too. Mohamed Salah has looked his usual self, Harvey Elliott has done well and Kostas Tsimikas has taken his chance with Andy Robertson out injured.
But asked to named his standout performer over the three games while speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Barnes named Jarell Quansah as his pick.“Jarell Quansah,” answered the Liverpool legend. “Quansah’s been really, really good.“Defensively he’s good. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s very, very good on the ball which is what Arne Slot wants.
Barnes went on to name Conor Bradley and Curtis Jones as other players who have caught his attention.“Conor Bradley I think has done himself no harm whatsoever,” he added. “And of course Curtis, because he’s been in and around it and other midfield players haven’t been there. So, I think he’ll stake a claim as well.
Jarell Quansah takes his chanceWhile other players have been on extended breaks this summer, it has given some a chance to cement themselves in Slot’s plans.It has only been a month and three games, but you have to say that Quansah has surely done that already.The 21-year-old had broken into the starting XI anyway late last season, consigning Ibrahima Konate to the bench.
And with Konate only returning to the line-up on Sunday, Quansah has put himself in Slot’s mind as the starting centre-back next to Virgil van Dijk.
Barnes is absolutely right, Quansah has been brilliant out in the US. After such a faultless run of games, he couldn’t have done much more to signal to Slot that he is ready to be given more responsibility.
