Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were notable absentees from the Liverpool squad that faced AC Milan in a pre-season clash held in Hong Kong on Saturday. Manager Arne Slot named a 22-man roster for the friendly, but both Diaz and Nunez were left out, further fueling speculation around their futures.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed via his official X account that Diaz's exclusion was indeed linked to ongoing transfer rumours. In a post following the game, Romano quoted Slot:
New signing Florian Wirtz made his first start for the Reds, while striker Hugo Ekitike, who only just linked up with the team on Thursday, was not included in the matchday squad. AC Milan, led by former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, took full advantage of Liverpool's defensive lapses to seal a 4-2 win.
Rafael Leao struck first for Milan just 10 minutes in, before Dominik Szoboszlai equalised with a stunning long-range effort. The second half, however, belonged to the Rossoneri. Loftus-Cheek restored Milan's lead shortly after the break, and substitute Noah Okafor added a brace, sandwiching a late header from Cody Gakpo.
While Liverpool dominated possession under the closed roof of the Kai Tak Stadium, they lacked defensive sharpness. Wirtz looked composed in midfield during his 45-minute appearance, showing glimpses of the creativity that convinced Liverpool to pay a British record 150 million for the German playmaker.
Substitutes Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were also given run-outs, but Ekitike wasn't ready to feature, having only arrived in Asia two days prior. Meanwhile, Joe Gomez flew back to the UK earlier in the week due to a minor Achilles issue.
Away from the pitch, Softfootball noted that there was a touching moment as fans and players paid tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car crash earlier this month.
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish laid flowers in front of the travelling supporters, who held up a 'DJ20' mosaic. Leao also honoured the late Portuguese forward with a silent tribute after scoring.
As Liverpool prepare to continue their tour with a game against Yokohama F-Marinos in Japan on Wednesday, transfer rumours continue to swirl. Nunez has attracted interest from Napoli and clubs in the Saudi Pro League, while Diaz is reportedly in talks with Bayern Munich.
The German champions are said to be preparing a second offer exceeding 60 million after an initial bid was rejected . While Liverpool are reluctant to sell, Diaz is understood to be open to a move, particularly after being informed that an improved contract extension won't be offered. His current deal runs until 2027.