Liverpool suffered a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in their latest pre-season fixture, played in front of a packed crowd at the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, Softfootball reports.
Arne Slot named a strong starting eleven, with Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister all featuring.
Quickfire goals from both clubs: Rafeal Leao for Milan and Dominic Szoboszlai for Liverpool, respectively.
Liverpool outclassedHowever, it was AC Milan who struck first. After just 10 minutes, Rafael Leo drifted inside from the left and curled past Alisson to open the scoring.
Liverpool responded with control and pressing intensity, and their reward came midway through the first half. Szoboszlai latched onto a rebound and slotted home in the 26th minute to level matters.
But Milan punished Liverpool's high line after the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek made it 2-1 with a driven shot from the edge of the box after a swift break. The Italians extended their lead soon after Noah Okafor finished calmly in the 59th minute following a Liverpool turnover.
Slot made wholesale changes in the second half, handing minutes to youngsters including Rio Ngumoha and Ben Doak. Florian Wirtz, on his unofficial debut, showed glimpses of creativity but struggled to break Milan's deep block.
Despite Cody Gakpo pulling one back in stoppage time with a well-placed finish to make it 3-2, Milan hit back instantly. Okafor struck again in the final seconds, capitalising on stretched Liverpool lines and confusion in the box.
Liverpool dominated possession and registered more shots, but Milan's tactical discipline and ability to spring forward on the counter proved decisive. Defensive issues were evident, with both full-backs caught high on several occasions, a theme Slot will be keen to address before the season begins.
Ngumoha's performance was a bright spot, impressing with his close control and drive at defenders. Meanwhile, Wirtz showed flashes but lacked rhythm understandable given his short integration time.