Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored as Premier League champions Liverpool have been overwhelmed 4-2 by AC Milan on Saturday in a pre-season pleasant in Hong Kong.
Liverpool, with report signing Florian Wirtz making his first begin, managed massive elements of the match underneath a closed roof at Kai Tak Stadium, however a shaky defence was punished on the break for all 4 Milan objectives.
Rafael Leao opened the scoring for the Italian facet on 10 minutes with Dominik Szoboszlai’s very good strike equalising 16 minutes later to make it 1-1 at half-time.
However Loftus-Cheek and two objectives from substitute Noah Okafor, both facet of Cody Gakpo’s late header, gave AC Milan victory.
Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot mentioned there have been positives to take from the sport however admitted his facet wanted to enhance earlier than their first aggressive match, the Neighborhood Protect in opposition to Crystal Palace on August 10.
“I noticed just a few good issues,” he instructed reporters, referring particularly to the primary half when a largely first-choice Liverpool created a bunch of probabilities however solely transformed one.
Slot made 9 modifications on the break and a largely makeshift defence was caught out repeatedly.
“We needed to provide 20 gamers some enjoying time. So because of that, too many gamers didn’t play in their very own place. We have been a bit too open.
“We now have to enhance in sure areas, as a result of we have been counter-attacked an excessive amount of in the present day.”
Loftus-Cheek, who additionally had spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham, mentioned it was particular to attain in opposition to Liverpool.
“It’s good to play in opposition to a Premier League crew once more,” mentioned Loftus-Cheek, whose facet had misplaced 1-0 to Arsenal in a pleasant on Wednesday.
– ‘Lot to enhance on’ –
“Liverpool are top-of-the-line groups on this planet. It was an excellent take a look at for us tonight.
“It’s nearly feeling higher bodily, gelling as a crew, and there’s rather a lot for us to enhance.
“So we’ll take that and transfer on.”
Liverpool’s Hong Kong followers vastly outnumbered these supporting AC Milan within the 49,704 sellout crowd.
They paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, who handed away this month in a automobile crash.
Flowers have been laid by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish in entrance of followers, who responded by holding up a mosaic spelling out “DJ20” in honour of Jota’s quantity 20 shirt, which has been retired by the membership.
Leao, too, remembered his fellow Portuguese participant Jota as he provided a silent prayer and shaped the quantity 20 together with his fingers after scoring the opener.
Wirtz performed 45 minutes and seemed comfy directing operations, displaying hints of why Bayer Leverkusen have been paid a reported British switch report $150 million for the German playmaker.
Different new Liverpool signings, defenders Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong each got here on as substitutes at half-time.
One other defender, Joe Gomez, has flown residence for remedy of a minor Achilles downside.
Striker Hugo Ekitike, who was signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported $92 million, was not prepared to participate, having solely flown in to hitch his new teammates two days earlier.
Liverpool began with out a recognised central striker as Darwin Nunez, who was injured, and Luis Diaz, linked with a transfer away from Anfield, have been ignored.
Liverpool will now fly to Japan to face Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday.
dh/sco
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