Liverpool face Italian giants AC Milan today at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. It is the first match of their pre-season tour of Asia after previous friendly victories over Preston North End and Stoke City.
The Reds arrived in the Far East on Monday and have been training regularly ahead of the match. They will then fly to Japan for the second leg of the trip to take on Yokohama F. Marinos in the Nissan Stadium.
New £79m signing Hugo Ekitike could be a part of that side after arriving in Hong Kong earlier this week following his switch from Eintracht Frankfurt, though the match against Milan could come too soon for him.
Liverpool supporters could, however, could be given a first glimpse of £116m addition Florian Wirtz, who missed the Preston game. Alexis Mac Allister is expected to still be sidelined, however, after an injury kept him out of the end of last season.
Federico Chiesa has been left out of the squad in the Far East despite scoring in the win over Stoke and featuring against Preston.
The ECHO’s Paul Gorst is with Liverpool on tour to bring you live updates, commentary and analysis from Hong Kong.
14:22Ian Doyle
Well into four minutes of additional time and Liverpool continue to have all the ball but don’t really look like scoring.
14:15Paul Gorst
A new record at the Kai Tak Stadium as 49,704 are confirmed as the attendance. Stadium only opened in March. Liverpool still trail 3-1 to AC Milan.
14:04Ian Doyle
Frimpong does well to stand a cross up to the far post.
Milan can only get it clear to near the edge of the area and Morton arrives to shoot well off target.
14:02Ian Doyle
There are only four more games – and half of those are against the same opposition – before the real stuff starts with the beginning of the Premier League season in less than three weeks.
In terms of fitness and physicality, Liverpool look fine.
But with all the new players still adjusting, it might be time for Slot to settle on what he thinks is going to the team and formation for the opening of the campaign. It’s all been a bit messy today.
13:55Ian Doyle
A great ball crossfield from Gakpo and Frimpong can get in behind but his shot is saved.
Liverpool have had chances but haven’t really looked convincing with the final finish.
13:52Ian Doyle
Gravenberch has a shot from 25 yards and it clips the top of the crossbar.
He then goes off and Morton comes back on.
13:52Paul Gorst
Liverpool undone once more by a razor-sharp transition, this time through Leao’s flick and Alexis Saelemaekers’ charging down the line. His cross is smashed home superby by Noah Okafor and the Reds have been cut open by their inability to properly defend counter-attacks tonight. That’s three now.
13:50KEY EVENT
Guess what? Liverpool have been caught on the break again. Poor defensively.
13:46Ian Doyle
Gakpo tries to catch Milan out from a free-kick out wide but the keeper palms it over.
Liverpool have been very tidy in possession but have lacked a bit of a cutting edge up top and definitely are too open at the back.
13:44Paul Gorst
It’s more good work from Leao you have to say who gets in behind Conor Bradley and tears away before having the composure to find former Chelsea man Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Rossoneri midfielder tucks it away and the Italians now lead a much-changed Liverpool 2-1 here in Hong Kong.
13:42KEY EVENT
Behind again. Another poor one.
13:40Ian Doyle
The Reds get cracking after the interval.
A period of pressure ends with Gakpo striking over from the edge of the area.
13:37Paul Gorst
Liverpool’s team for the second half: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Tsimikas, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Frimpong, Nyoni, Gakpo; Doak. Nine changes, Nyoni and Gravenberch remain.
13:36Ian Doyle
Liverpool have made a raft of changes for this half
13:22Paul Gorst
ALISSON BECKER – 7
Made a really good save late in the half to deny Pulisic and was his usual excellent self. Alert goalkeeping allowed him to clear when rushing way out of his box earlier in the half and kept it at 1-1 late on.
LUCA STEPHENSON – 6
Got caught out by Pulisic’s ball in behind for the opening goal and Van Dijk was unable to fully cover. Always willing to get forward but unable to influence too much attacking-wise.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK – 6
Attempted to get across for Leao’s goal but was unable to cover before the shot. Caught a boot in the face for his troubles late on.
RYAN GRAVENBERCH – 6
Started at centre-back in lieu of Joe Gomez but could do nothing about Leao’s opener. Always tried to build attacks by bringing it out of defence to find a more advanced team-mate. One pass to Ngumoha was spectacular. Might be an experiment we see more of going forward.
ANDY ROBERTSON – 6
Didn’t have a whole lot to do defensively but always made sure he was an option for Ngumoha in possession further forward. Was denied a penalty when he turned inside the box and was furious with the decision. Decent strike on goal was saved.
TYLER MORTON – 6
Always comfortable to take possession in tight areas and you can see why Liverpool have been in no rush to move him on. He will be a fine addition for whoever eventually signs him. Replaced after 30 minutes for Nyoni as planned.
DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI – 8
Levelled the game with a sublime clip past Maignan that had the fans drooling when the replays were shown on the big screen. Crucial tracking denied Milan a potential second. One of the standout performers of the half.
MOHAMED SALAH – 6
Was ever a willing runner but not quite in full Mo Salah mode just yet. Should have shot but tried to play in Wirtz and had a couple of crosses that came to little before flashing a shot wide after a goalkeeper parry.
HARVEY ELLIOTT – 5
Over-hit a through ball to stop a dangerous attack in its track and was a yard off it when Wirtz played him in earlier. Understandably needs more minutes to sharpen up after his recent return to training.
RIO NGUMOHA – 7
Always content to run at the Milan backline and it’s so easy to see why there is plenty of excitement around the teenage winger. Hopefully we see plenty more of the former Chelsea youngster this pre-season.
FLORIAN WIRTZ – 8
Played as a false 9. One dip of the shoulder near the centre circle totally opened up the game but Elliott was too slow to profit from the threaded pass. Such a silky smooth operator in possession and should have had an assist for Salah.
Subs
TREY NYONI – 6
Fifteen-minute cameo meant it was difficult to get into the remainder of the first period. Will emerge for the second half.
13:19KEY EVENT
Honours even at the interval. The Reds have been the better team going forward but the lack of centre-backs and defensive midfielders has meant Milan have been a danger every time they break.
13:18Ian Doyle
Van Dijk gets a boot in the face as he tries to head claer after Liverpool are threatened right on half-time.
13:17Ian Doyle
The goalscorer
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool celebrates after scoring during the friendly match against AC Milan at Kai Tak Sports Park on July 26 2025 in Hong Kong (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
13:16Ian Doyle
Liverpool once again loose at the back.
Szoboszlai has to get back to concede a corner, then it all ends with Alisson saving a Pulisic shot.
13:14Ian Doyle
Ngumoha causes a nuisance once again.
This time it drops for Robertson who has a shot saved and then Salah puts the rebound wide from a difficult angle.
That was close.
13:12Ian Doyle
Game action
Rafael Leao of Milan scores his team’s opening goal during the friendly match against Liverpoolat Kai Tak Sports Park on July 26 2025 in Hong Kong (Image: AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images)
Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan competes for the ball with Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool during the friendly match at Kai Tak Sports Park on July 26 2025 in Hong Kong (Image: AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images)
13:11Paul Gorst
Fair to say Andy Robertson is not happy with that decision not to award him a penalty as he turned inside the penalty area. This may only be a friendly but the referee has some choice words reserved for him as a result. Now now, Andy…
13:09Ian Doyle
Robertson goes down in the box and the referee says get on with it.
The left-back is unimpressed.
13:07Ian Doyle
Liverpool having only one recognised centre-back is being exacerbated a bit by Van Dijk legging it upfield a bit too often.
Milan break and it ends with Pulisic narrowly striking wide from range.
13:06Ian Doyle
Nyoni is on and Morton has gone off at the drinks break.
13:06Ian Doyle
Tell you what, this Wirtz fella looks fairly decent.
Fast, strong and with quick feet and can see a pass.
No wonder Liverpool agreed a £116m deal for him.
13:05Ian Doyle
He played a part in that first goal and Ngumoha is now enjoying himself.
Cuts in off the left and fires a shot that Mike Maignan in the Milan goal has to palm out.
13:02Paul Gorst
Take a bow Dominik Szoboszlai, that was sublime clip past Mike Maignan and he meant every bit of it. The crowd are loving watching a few replays of the equaliser on the big screen. It all started from Ryan Gravenberch’s spectacular pass to get Rio Ngumoha away down the left but Szoboszlai’s effort was special.
12:57KEY EVENT
Blimey. What a goal that is.
12:53Ian Doyle
Alisson gives Szoboszlai a pass inside the area that clearly the midfielder didn’t want.
He’s about to lose possession but then wins a free-kick.
Right out of the Hamann/Milner school of falling over when required.
