Liverpool lost 4-2 in a pre-season friendly against Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday to begin their two-game Asian tour.
Arne Slot’s side went behind in the 10th minute after a sweeping Christian Pulisic ball sent Rafael Leao through on goal. The winger fired past Alisson to give the Italian side the lead. But Liverpool levelled in the 29th minute as Dominik Szoboszlai collected the ball on the left side of the box before curling a shot into the net.
Leao was dangerous again after half-time, once again being played through on the left side in the 51st minute. He worked his way into the box before playing a pass across to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who fired in to put his side ahead again. Milan then doubled their advantage, Noah Okafor latching onto a cross from the right.
Liverpool did reduce the deficit to one in added time when Cody Gakpo rose highest in the box to head home but Milan added a fourth after a huge defensive mix-up involving Kostas Tsimikas and new goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili sent Okafor through with an empty net gaping.
The Athletic’s James Pearce analyses the game from the Kai Tak Stadium.
How did Wirtz play in his first appearance in front of fans?
Florian Wirtz has been Liverpool’s statement signing of the summer… so far. The Germany international, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee which could rise to a British-record £116million ($156m), was bought to give Slot’s title-winning attack a new dimension.
Having sat out the opening friendly against Preston North End of the Championship before getting 45 minutes under his belt in the behind-closed-doors friendly last weekend against another second-tier side, Stoke City, this was the first chance for supporters to get a proper look at the 22-year-old playmaker in action.
That hefty price tag brings plenty of pressure with it, but Wirtz didn’t disappoint. Operating as a false nine, he was a joy to watch with his movement and eye for a pass. With Liverpool having lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid this summer, Wirtz will help to fill the creative void his departure creates.
Mohamed Salah really should have gone for goal himself after being released by a lovely touch from Wirtz, but opted to try to play a return pass to the newcomer and the opening disappeared.
Wirtz made it look effortless as he operated in small spaces and used the ball intelligently. One cute turn was followed by him expertly teeing up Harvey Elliott, who couldn’t get a shot away on the difficult playing surface.
Striker Hugo Ekitike wasn’t considered for selection, having only trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday following his £79million move from Eintracht Frankfurt this week. Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were also omitted as discussions over their futures rumble on. Diaz is being pursued by Bayern Munich, and Nunez is the subject of ongoing interest from the Saudi Pro League.
With speculation over a potential record purchase of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak rumbling on, Liverpool’s forward line could yet be further enhanced in this window, but what’s clear is that Wirtz is going to be a serious asset.
Did Liverpool look like they need more centre-back options?
There could be no clearer illustration of Liverpool’s urgent need to buy another centre-back.
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was pressed into duty there, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, during the opening 45 minutes today. Then, after Slot made nine changes at the break, left-back Tsimikas was a makeshift centre-back, with Ibrahima Konate for company.
Liverpool were already short in that department following the sale of England Under-21 international Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen earlier this month for around £30million.
But Slot’s options dwindled further before this game when Joe Gomez flew back to Merseyside due to Achilles tendon discomfort. It’s another frustrating setback for Gomez, who has only played 11 minutes of competitive football this year. A hamstring injury wrecked the second half of last season for the club’s longest-serving player.
Liverpool retain an interest in Crystal Palace’s England international Marc Guehi as they ponder their next move, but the clock is ticking with their Premier League opener against Bournemouth now less than three weeks away.
Gravenberch played at the back on occasions last season, but the issue with having him there is that it weakens your midfield because you’re shifting the most accomplished No 6 in the Premier League out of that role. Milan were able to expose that defensive vulnerability early on when Leao ran through to fire home the opener from a tight angle. Then they did likewise in the second half when Loftus-Cheek and Okafor both fired past Mamardashvili.
Another error was punished deep into stoppage time when Tsimikas’ sloppy pass put Mamardashvili in trouble and Okafor grabbed his second goal.
How did Ngumoha do after his start?
There’s a buzz around Rio Ngumoha, and it’s easy to see why. The winger doesn’t even turn 17 until the end of next month but his potential is immense.
Liverpool managed him carefully following his high-profile arrival from Chelsea last summer. He was largely kept out of the limelight at the academy as he adjusted to his new surroundings. There was just one senior appearance, and that was in January’s FA Cup tie against fourth-division Accrington Stanley when he became the youngest player in the club’s history to start a competitive game, aged 16 years and 135 days.
Ngumoha appears ready to take on a bigger role in the coming season. Physically, he looks better able to handle the demands of first-team football, and there’s no doubt he’s got the talent and the right mentality.
He delighted the crowd here with his pace, power and trickery as he caused Milan plenty of problems, and was heavily involved in Liverpool’s equaliser. After some great work down the left, he laid the ball off to Szoboszlai, who took a touch to steady himself and curled an unstoppable shot beyond Mike Maignan.
Moments later, Nguhoma was at it again, as he left defenders trailing in his wake and forced a smart save from the France international goalkeeper.
He’s fearless, and he kept on demanding the ball.
How were tributes paid to Diogo Jota?
It was a poignant night in front of a record 49,704-strong crowd for Kai Tak Stadium, which opened last month.
Before kick-off, Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in tribute to Diogo Jota as the fans behind the goal held up a mosaic which read: ‘DJ20.’ Supporters around the ground also applauded in memory of the Portugal international after 20 minutes — a nod to his squad number.
Earlier in the day, Liverpool had unveiled plans for a memorial sculpture back at Anfield. Slot’s players will wear a ‘Forever 20’ emblem on their shirts and stadium jackets for the duration of the coming season, and the LFC Foundation, the club’s official charity, will launch a grassroots football programme in the Portugal international’s name.
Against Milan, players and staff wore black armbands in memory of legendary Liverpool defender Joey Jones, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 70.
What next for Liverpool?
Slot and company now travel on to Japan to play Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, July 30 (11.30am BST/6.30am ET).
(Top photo: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
