(Football news) Both of the English powerhouses emerged victorious from their most recent friendlies; Arne Slot’s team defeated Arsenal, and the Red Devils defeated Real Betis in a thrilling five-goal thriller.

Manchester United broke their losing streak in preseason play when Real Betis visited Snapdragon Stadium in California. The San Diego crowd was treated to an electrifying first 35 minutes of play, as Manchester United replied to their narrow loss to Arsenal.

Even though Diego Llorente set up a tense last 30 minutes, the Red Devils shut down for their second friendly victory of the summer. Iker Losada, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, and Casemiro were all on target in a first half where neither team was focused on defence.

However, the friendly spoils in San Diego came as little consolation for Man United amid their cruel wave of pre-season injuries, having learned that new signing Leny Yoro is expected to spend three months in the infirmary with the foot problem he picked up in the Arsenal defeat.

Rashford, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund are also keeping the ex-Lille defender company in the infirmary as the injury demons bedevil Manchester United, whose preparations for next weekend’s Community Shield against Manchester City have been thrown into partial disarray.

While the medical team are now working overtime, Erik ten Hag should still be able to reflect on his side’s time in the USA with relative pride, and the same can be said of his upcoming foe and erstwhile Eredivisie counterpart Arne Slot.

Warming up for a reunion with his compatriot in perfect style, the Liverpool head coach masterminded a 2-1 beating of Arsenal in the Philadelphia heat on Wednesday evening, where 21-year-old Harvey Elliott ran the show in the number 10 slot.

The former Fulham protege laid on a pair of slick assists, firstly playing Mohamed Salah through before picking out Fabio Carvalho with a delicate dink over the top of the Arsenal backline, and a Kai Havertz response would merely be scant consolation for Arsenal.

Liverpool offered little in an attacking sense in the second 45, but Arsenal’s period of possession dominance did not translate into a barrage of shots on the Liverpool goal, as Slot’s sturdy structure won out to propel the Reds to pre-season win number two.

Also boasting their own one-goal success over Real Betis from their transatlantic trip, Liverpool only have one more exhibition game in the diary once their USA tour is said and done – the visit of Sevilla to Anfield on August 11 – although talks are ongoing to schedule another fixture with Las Palmas amid concerns over a lack of friendly minutes for some senior players.

Righting last season’s wrongs is currently priority number one for Liverpool, though, as they failed to win any of their three battles with Manchester United in 2023-24, while Slot and Ten Hag both boast two wins over the other from their time in the AZ Alkmaar and Ajax dugouts respectively.

Also read: Newcastle United give a final answer to Arsenal over player transfer