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Introduction
In a pre-season clash full of energy, goals, and emotional moments, Liverpool fell 4-2 to AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday night. With two goals in the final minutes, the match ended with a bang at the packed Kai Tak Stadium, where a record crowd witnessed an entertaining display from both European giants.
Despite some bright moments for the Reds, Milan’s ruthlessness in key phases of the game made the difference. Liverpool’s pre-season journey now takes them to Japan, but not before this spirited encounter gave plenty of talking points.
Emotional Start in Hong Kong
The match began with a touching tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Liverpool’s players took to the pitch wearing black armbands and warm-up shirts marked with Jota’s name. One stand in the stadium displayed a beautiful mosaic reading “DJ 20,” and club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath in front of the supporters.
This emotional tone set the stage for an intense and passionate friendly that felt far more than just a warm-up match.
Alisson Returns as First-Half Line-Up Impresses
Alisson Becker made his first appearance of the pre-season, starting in a first-half eleven that featured a mix of experienced players like Van Dijk, Salah, and Robertson, alongside youngsters such as Ngumoha and Stephenson.
Arne Slot, staying true to his rotation strategy, once again split the squad into two different lineups for each half.
Here’s how the Reds lined up for the opening 45 minutes:
First half – Alisson, Stephenson, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson, Morton (Nyoni, 32), Szoboszlai, Salah, Elliott, Wirtz, Ngumoha.
The early minutes saw Alisson called into action as he got down quickly to deny Christian Pulisic following a Liverpool error in midfield. Szoboszlai and Rafael Leao tested the goalkeepers at both ends with shots from range, but it was Leao who broke the deadlock in the 10th minute.
After a sharp Milan counter, Leao found himself free down the left and lashed a powerful strike into the roof of the net with Liverpool’s defense exposed.
Liverpool responded with some clever play in and around the box. Salah and new signing Florian Wirtz nearly crafted an equalizer, but their intricate passing move was cut short.
The breakthrough came not long after. Rio Ngumoha’s pressure on the left flank paid off as he laid the ball off to Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian curled a brilliant shot into the top corner, giving Mike Maignan no chance.
Moments later, Maignan had to be sharp again to deny Ngumoha, who continued to cause problems for Milan’s backline. Salah also went close from the right side of the box, but his shot flew just over.
At the other end, Milan continued to use breakaways effectively. Pulisic got another chance from the edge of the box, but his low strike drifted wide. Alisson remained alert, saving another Pulisic effort just before halftime.
Second-Half Changes and Milan’s Turning Point
Liverpool returned from the break with a completely new lineup:
Second half – Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Tsimikas, Kerkez, Jones, Gravenberch (Morton, 62), Nyoni, Gakpo, Doak, Frimpong.
Within the first minute, Cody Gakpo made his presence known with a curling shot that sailed just over the bar.
But Milan responded with a clinical double blow. In the 52nd minute, Rafael Leao once again burned down the left and squared to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who calmly slotted it low past Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Seven minutes later, Alexis Saelemaekers broke loose down the right and cut the ball across to Noah Okafor. With one touch, he smashed it past the keeper, making it 3-1.
Ryan Gravenberch tried to pull one back with a powerful strike from distance, but the ball kissed the top of the bar and flew out. That was his final contribution before being substituted.
Frimpong and Gakpo Bring Late Hope
Despite the scoreline, Liverpool didn’t back down. Jeremie Frimpong stood out on the right, showing great pace and control. He brought down a long crossfield ball from Gakpo and fired a strong shot, which Milan’s goalkeeper managed to block.
Frimpong was at it again moments later, sprinting past his defender and swinging in a cross. The ball fell to Tyler Morton on the edge of the box, but he scuffed his shot wide.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Liverpool found a glimmer of hope. Ibrahima Konate floated in a long, accurate cross from deep, and Gakpo rose to meet it, placing a well-angled header into the top corner. The score was now 3-2, and for a moment, the crowd stirred in anticipation.
That excitement was quickly silenced. A defensive error allowed Milan to press again, and Okafor was gifted a simple tap-in with the last kick of the match, sealing the 4-2 result.
Positives and Lessons for Arne Slot
While the scoreline wasn’t in Liverpool’s favor, the match offered several positives. Szoboszlai’s strike was a reminder of his quality, Ngumoha showed real promise down the left, and Gakpo continued to look sharp in attack.
Frimpong’s pace and control were highlights of the second half, and Alisson’s return between the sticks was a welcome sight for fans.
On the flip side, Liverpool’s defense looked vulnerable to fast breaks, and there’s still work to be done in terms of organization and cohesion particularly when switching between squads across halves.
Conclusion
With this match concluding the Hong Kong leg of their Asia tour, Liverpool now head to Japan. Their next fixture sees them take on Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday, offering another chance for players to impress and for Arne Slot to continue building towards the new season.
It’s clear that Liverpool are still finding their rhythm under their new head coach. The signs of potential are there, and while results in pre-season aren’t everything, games like these offer valuable insight into what’s working and what still needs sharpening before the Premier League kicks off.
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YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)!
The Liverpool FC Times Team
LiverpoolFCTimes.com