Liverpool have been crushed by AC Milan of their second preseason recreation of the summer season as their new £100 million ($134.3m) man Florian Wirtz began up entrance whereas forwards Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez have been omitted of the squad altogether with their futures on the membership more and more unsure.
Arne Slot’s aspect misplaced 4-2 in a recreation the place they have been lower open defensively on a number of events whereas new signings Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Giorgi Mamardashvili all bought vital minutes in Hong Kong.
Milan took an early lead within the warmth at Kai Tak Sports activities Park as United States star Christian Pulisic discovered Rafael Leão on a breakaway down the left inside 10 minutes. The Portugal worldwide took the ball away from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk earlier than smashing residence from a good angle.
Liverpool discovered an equaliser simply quarter-hour later courtesy of a Dominik Szoboszlai stunner. Rio Ngumoha, 16, discovered himself one on one with Fikayo Tomori and after some sharp footwork, he fed Szoboslai who curled into the far nook.
Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC by way of Getty Pictures
“Essentially the most stunning and necessary factor I am completely happy about in these first 20 days of labor as a result of the crew has a proactive angle and considerably raised its stage of endurance,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri mentioned.
“As for Leão, I imagine he is rising and has the mature mindset to have an important season.”
Milan appointed Allegri in Could for a second stint after sacking Sergio Conceicao, having completed eighth in Serie A and lacking out on European competitors for the primary time since 2019.
The perimeters went into half-time stage as Slot rang the modifications — solely Ryan Gravenberch remained on the pitch for the second half.
With new signings Frimpong, Kerkez launched alongside Cody Gakpo and Ben Doak now main the road within the second-half, Milan as soon as once more caught Liverpool on the break. With our bodies excessive up the pitch, Leão discovered house earlier than establishing former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek who well slotted residence previous one other second-half substitute, Mamardashvili.
Liverpool’s dedication to having our bodies excessive up the pitch was exploited for a 3rd time by Milan simply earlier than the hour mark as they took a two-goal lead.
Alexis Saelemaekers discovered heaps of room down Liverpool’s left earlier than firing a ball into the center for Noah Okafor to emphatically end, leaving Mamardashvili merely a spectator.
Gakpo netted a comfort on the demise for Liverpool as he bought on the tip of a Ibrahima Konaté cross. Milan, nevertheless, reinstated their two-goal cushion in a chaotic end to the sport as Mamardashvili pushed ahead to the midway line earlier than an error allowed Okafor to get his second of the night time, slotting residence into an empty web.
These in attendance paid tribute to late Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota with a pre-planned spherical of applause within the twentieth minute of the match. The shirts of the Liverpool gamers learn “Diogo J. 20” whereas Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in entrance of the Liverpool supporters earlier than kick off in tribute to the ahead who died in a automobile crash on July 3.
A vivid 45-minutes for Wirtz, a extra superior place on the correct for Frimpong and Ngumoha on the wing have been notable positives for Liverpool on a night the place they struggled defensively in an entertaining, goal-filled pleasant.
“Conceding 4 is not what we wish however you need to take into account the circumstances, we missed seven senior gamers, and wished to provide 20 gamers enjoying time, so gamers need to play out of place,” Slot mentioned.
“We nonetheless have been capable of play our regular recreation, however we have been a bit too open within the counter-attack.”
Data from Reuters contributed to this report
