A heavily rearranged Liverpool succumbed to a flurry of top class counter-attacks to lose their pre-season match against AC Milan 4-2.
A heavily rearranged Liverpool succumbed to a flurry of top class counter-attacks to lose their pre-season match against AC Milan 4-2.
In their first proper test of pre-season, Arne Slot’s Liverpool were forced to prioritise experimentation over cohesion and it told, with chances hard to come by throughout the 90 minutes without a recognised centre-forward.
At no point during the 90 did the Reds have two out-and-out centre-backs on the pitch either, but the first of AC Milan’s three counter-attacking goals came when Rafael Leao punished Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk after 11 minutes. Having been released into space by former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, the Portuguese forward gratefully capitalised on Van Dijk’s decision to show him space on his left foot to thump home before honouring his compatriot Diogo Jota in his celebration.
“Every time you step on the pitch, whether it’s a friendly, you need to win,” said Slot post-match. “Conceding four isn’t what we want but you have to consider the circumstances; we were missing seven senior players, so players had to play out of position.
“We lost duels too easily, and we didn’t defend aggressively enough. As a result, we got counter-attacked a few times too many. These are the small details which you have to be really good at otherwise you get punished.”
The pick of Liverpool’s players was undoubtedly Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian conducting an untidy midfield with plenty of composure, and he marked that performance with a wonderfully taken goal, bending the ball into the top right-hand corner from the edge of the box. Beyond the space created for that goal by the highly talented 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool failed to threaten, Florian Wirtz’s role as a false-nine allowing him to show some nice touches and turns without anyone to provide end-product for.
That ensured Wirtz’s 45 minutes before an expectant Hong Kong crowd were somewhat anti-climactic, while Ben Doak struggled for meaningful chances in the same role in the second half. With new signing Hugo Ekitike out in Asia, but not in today’s matchday squad, Slot will surely turn to the Frenchman to provide an attacking focal point as they face Yokohama FM and Bilbao (twice) before their Community Shield game against Crystal Palace on August 10.
“One of the positions we didn’t have was the centre-forward,” said Slot. “Hugo Ekitike’s not ready to play and Darwin’s got a minor injury. In the first half the two tens looked good in possession, there were a lot of good things. But we got counter-attacked three times. Many things need to improve, because Palace are a good team on the counter.”
There were also meaningful minutes for Jeremie Frimpong, playing further forward on the right than his usual wing-back role for Bayer Leverkusen. The 24-year-old dribbled well but was also hampered by the absence of a striker, whilst Connor Bradley struggled with defensive duties at right-back.
Slot will also surely revert to two centre-backs, with the second-half combination of Konstantinos Tsimikas and Ibrahim Konaté struggling against AC Milan’s counter-attacking prowess. That is of course mitigated by the late withdrawal of Joe Gomez owing to an achilles issue. In his absence, Milan raced into a 3-1 lead after Leao skinned Bradley to tee up Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Alexis Saelemaekers surged up the opposite wing to set up Noah Okafor’s first.
The Swiss forward grabbed his second, and Milan’s fourth with the final touch of the game after a mix up between Tsimikas and Giorgi Mamardashvili, just moments after Cody Gakpo had headed in a 92nd-minute consolation.
03:14 PM BST
Arne Slot’s post-match interview
Everytime you step on the pitch, whether it’s a friendly, you need to win. Conceding four isn’t what we want but you have to consider the circumstances, we missed seven senior players, and we needed everyone to play 45 minutes, so players have to play out of position. They’re still all very good players.
We lost duals too easily, and we didn’t defend aggressively enough. As a result, we got counter attacked a few times too many. These are the small details which you have to be really good at otherwise you get punished.
On playing two number tens:
One of the positions we didn’t have was the centre forward; Hugo Ekitike’s not ready to play and Darwin’s injured.
In the first half the two tens looked good in possession, there were a lot of good things. But we got counter attacked three times. Many things need to improve, because Palace are a good team on the counter.
That’s all for today, thanks for following along! There’s more pre-season action tomorrow between Arsenal and Newcastle, but goodbye for now!
03:06 PM BST
Harvey Elliott post-match
It was a really good test, tough conditions vs an incredible team. We were trying different formations that we’ve never really played before. There were some really good moments in the game, but four goals conceded, we could’ve avoided them. It’s better to make these mistakes now, we just need to learn from it and take the lessons. We can be proud, in a formation we’re not used to, with different positions.
On playing in a ‘double ten’ with Florian Wirtz:
It’s about learning to have that relation with Flo, when one drops, the other can stay high and pin back defenders, how to support out wide. It clicked really well, we had a few opportunities but the final bit didn’t go too well, but that’ll come, in pre-season passes are off and last touches aren’t perfect. We need to keep learning, trying to get rhythm, whether we play this formation I’m not sure, it’s up to the gaffer, but it was enjoyable to play in today.
On 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha:
He’s fearless, showed that today vs one of Europe’s biggest team, it just looked like he was a kid in the park! He just needs to carry on as he is, we’re trying to help him, if he keeps working hard as he is, he’s got an amazing future.
02:56 PM BST
Post match reaction
Lucas Leiva speaking to Liverpool TV:
Leao is so strong. They were playing deep and exploiting the counter attack, finishing well. It’s disappointing, and Liverpool looked short of fitness, so there’s plenty to work on.
No centre forward:
Diaz and Nunez have been doing that role in training, so without them it’s been difficult, and with Harvey Elliott and Florian Wirtz playing the two tens role today there was no one running in behind, but there’s plenty time to work it out.
Rio Ngumoha:
He;s amazing, only 16, and he’s not scared to take people on, he had some good moments. This pre-season’s showed he’s ready. Frimpong did well too, created some good chances, so overall it’s positive.
02:53 PM BST
Post match reaction
Sami Hyypiä speaking to Liverpool TV:
Milan sat deep but finished their attacks clinically. Florian Wirtz had some good moments between the lines, and with Salah, but will want his first goal. It’s a good work out, it helps get the feel of each other on the field.
This is good prep, and there was a lot of good in the game, but the balance, the counter pressing, wasn’t good enough today though#
No Joe Gomez:
Maybe I’ll have to put my boots on! It’s not ideal, Gravenberch and Tsmikas had to play centre back tonight but that’s football sometimes, hopefully Joe can be back soon.
02:27 PM BST
Full-time: Liverpool 2-4 AC Milan
Two goals at the death, match reaction and report to come!
02:26 PM BST
93 mins: Liverpool 2-4 AC Milan
Goal Liverpool! Consolation effort for Cody Gakpo, heading in at the back post to finish a lovely cross by Konate. Won’t change the result, but an encouraging sign given his modest returns last season.
And hang on! Not quite full-time, Okafor has a second withg the last touch of the match, walking it in after a mix up between Tsimikas and Mamardashvili!
02:20 PM BST
90 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
Lots of probing in the Milan box, but no real chances for Livepool. Four minutes of added time to come.
02:17 PM BST
86 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
A lovely threaded through ball by Tyler Morton sends Cody Gakpo through on goal. The angle is tight but the finish is really poor, slicing it into the side netting when the ball was begging to go across goal or get dinked over the on-rushing ‘keeper. Liverpool running out of time.
02:14 PM BST
83 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
Doak has resorted to stepping out wide to get involved and it works well as he finds some space to drive a cross into the box, but Curtis Jones strokes wide.
02:11 PM BST
81 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
49,704 in attendance, a record for this stadium and very close to full capacity. Ibrahim Konate heads over from a free-kick.
02:09 PM BST
78 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
We pause for a water break and Slot has plenty tactical advice to impart onto his team. Frimpong has been the only threat this half, Ben Doak has been absent down the middle.
They attack soon after the break but Trey Nyoni skies it.
02:05 PM BST
72 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
A lightning quick bit of footwork from Jeremie Frimpong takes him past his man cleanly but his cross is a little too aerial. Saelemaekers’ clearance finds Morton, whose shot fails to threaten.
01:58 PM BST
65 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
A couple of Liverpool chances follow, Gakpo forcing a decent save and Frimpong beating his man to drive into the box. His finish is relatively tame, from a similar position to Leao’s opener. The score remains 3-1 as Milan bring on former Chelsea winger Samuel Chukweuze and new signing Pervis Estupinan, who they signed for €17m from Brighton.
01:51 PM BST
60 mins: Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan
Goal AC Milan, yet another counter attack!! Really impressive again, and Noah Okafor lashes home for a 3-1 lead.
Alexis Saelemaekers, who has been assured in midfield throughout, drives up the right and smashes a cross into the box. Given how quickly it came to him, Noah Okafor has done extremely well to finish, ensuring goalkeeper Marmadashvilli was a spectator, as were much of the Liverpool team to a third counter attacking goal.
01:50 PM BST
59 mins: Liverpool 1-2 AC Milan
Gakpo and Trey Nyoni combine for another half-chance, the 18-year-old beating two players and attempting to beat another before being dispossessed deep in the Milan box. He might’ve shot earlier if given the chance again, but nice, authoratitive dribbling.
01:48 PM BST
57 mins: Liverpool 1-2 AC Milan
A good cross by Gakpo is intercepted by Bartesaghi, denying Jeremie Frimpong a big chance.
01:46 PM BST
54 mins: Liverpool 1-2 AC Milan
Milos Kerkez earns Liverpool a free kick close to the left corner flag, and Gakpo makes an audacious attempt at goal which is saved by substitute goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano.
01:43 PM BST
52 mins: Liverpool 1-2 AC Milan
Goal AC Milan!! Another superb counter attack spearheaded by Leao, beating Bradley for pace and strength. Some sumptuous footwork by Loftus Cheek justifies Leao’s decision to square it, and he rolls it past Giorgi Mamardashvilli.
01:40 PM BST
48: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Jeremie Frimpong is on, playing ahead of Connor Bradley on that now-highly scrutinised right flank. Looks like Konstantinos Tsimikas is on at left centre back, too, so expect some periods of incoherence amidst Slot’s experimentation.
01:37 PM BST
Half time changes
A host of changes at half-time, it seems Ryan Gravenberch is the sole survivor for Liverpool. Ben Doak seems to be the man playing striker.
Gakpo is on the left wing, and blazes the first chance of the half over the bar.
Fewer changes for AC Milan...
01:32 PM BST
Wirtz quiet without striker
Beyond the Szoboszlai strike, Liverpool haven’t created an abundance of chances. Ngumoha has been the most threatening, but it’s been telling that Liverpool are without a recognised striker, several flashes across the box failing to convert into real chances.
It’s perhaps why it’s been a relatively quiet half for Florian Wirtz on debut, with the £100m man playing outside his usual comfort zone up top. He’s looked sharp on the ball when he has been found.
Milan have threatened a few more times, despite playing with less possession. The Leao goal was a typical counter attacking effort, with a nice touch in his celebration to Portuguese teammate Diogo Jota:
01:21 PM BST
Half time: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Half time, two top quality goals keeping the two sides even.
01:19 PM BST
45 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
One minute of additional time announced after more impressive work by Rio Ngumoha - a statement first half by the 16-year-old.
Milan have the last chance of the half as a cross troubles Van Dijk, who has hurt his face amidst a scramble to get the ball clear alongside Alisson. Seems he was kicked by Bartesaghi as the Italian attempted an overhead kick.
01:16 PM BST
43 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Chances traded by both sides, a strike from outside the box by Mo Salah hitting the side netting, deceiving the crowd a la Raheem Sterling at the 2014 Euros.
Milan then counter after Loftus-Cheek presses succesasfully and Leao, similar to Salah in the first half, opts to square it when a shot looked the better option. That man Szoboszlai cleans up again, and Alisson makes a comfortable save from the corner.
01:14 PM BST
39 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Szoboszlai is oozing class, tidying up any cagey situations with apparent ease. Rio Ngumoha has been the only other Liverpool player on the same level, he’s got an appetite for beating players and does so again, his flash across goal unmet.
01:11 PM BST
36 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Another nice half turn from Wirtz prompts a penalty shout, which is dismissed.
01:10 PM BST
30 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
AC Milan go close through Christian Pulisic, his effort pushed just past the left post. They were countering 3-on-1 so might’ve hoped for more.
Tyler Morton, responsible for two giveaways and a few more poor passes, has been hooked and Gravenberch seems to have dropped into defence.
01:04 PM BST
30 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Liverpool have bounced off that goal, a number of probing crosses not quite creating end product. And a good first impact by Florian Wirtz on the half-turn to give Harvey Elliott a half-chance, which amounts to nothing. Encouraging nonetheless.
12:58 PM BST
26 mins: Liverpool 1-1 AC Milan
Goal!! Absolute worldie by Dominik Szoboslai - nonchalant as you like!
The midfielder has been the pick of Liverpool’s bunch so far, tidying up after his teammates on numerous occasions. This time 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha probes at Tomori, beating him once, twice, before recycling to the Hungarian on the inside edge of the box. Szoboslai opens up and bends one into the top right corner as if he was playing a simple switch.
The crowd lap up every replay despite the goal scorer brushing it off. 1-1!!
12:54 PM BST
20 mins: Jota tributes
Plenty of shirts and flags to honour Diogo Jota in the 20th minute, it’s a sea of red in Hong Kong.
On the pitch, Dominic Szoboszlai spares Liverpool’s blushes, picking up a hospital pass from Alisson in his own box and earning a foul off Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Pulisic has picked up an injury in the process.
12:52 PM BST
17 mins: Liverpool 0-1 AC Milan
The ‘unselfish’ trope used by the commentators there, to describe Salah’s decision to square it. I’m sure an equaliser would’ve been a more selfless contribution to the team...
Liverpool settling into possession, Stephenson getting very high, and quite central.
12:48 PM BST
14 mins: Liverpool 0-1 AC Milan
Nearly an equaliser for Liverpool, some baffling decision making by Mo Salah denying them! He’d combined beautifully with Luca Stephenson to open up the Milan defence but, on the edge of the six-yard box, he opts to square it, off his left(!) to Stephenson. The ball is intercepted and cleared, surely his left peg could’ve buried it.
12:43 PM BST
11 mins: Liverpool 0-1 AC Milan
Goal Milan!! A proper counter-attacking effort, finished emphatically by Rafa Leao!
AC Milan had just two players far from their own box but a hacked clearance found Christian Pulisic. The former Chelsea man put the paceman up front in the clear and Virgil Van Dijk showed too much respect to Leao’s left foot, with the Portuguese lashing home from a relatively tight angle. A nice tribute to his compatriot Diogo Jota in the celebration, too.
12:41 PM BST
9 mins: Liverpool 0-0 AC Milan
Another comfortable save for Alisson, a Rafa Leao shot rifled into his chest from outside the box. May have been trouble if the Milan striker, who is indeed still at the club, had directed it either side with the power he generated. I’m sure his name will fall straight back into the transfer rumour mill should Liverpool get the Isak deal over the line.
12:38 PM BST
5 mins: Liverpool 0-0 AC Milan
A first shot on goal by Christian Pulisic, comfortably saved by Allison after a giveaway by the 22-year-old Tyler Morton. It’s a small blight on a positive start by Liverpool, buoyed by ‘Liverrrrpooool’ chants in the crowd.
12:36 PM BST
Dalglish leads Jota tribute
12:33 PM BST
Kick off imminent
The teams are out in front of a packed out Kai Tak Stadium, it looks to be at 50,000 capacity. The ‘Forever 20’ tributes on the Liverpool shirt is positioned poignently between the crest and new Nike sponsorship.
AC Milan, fielding England hopefuls Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, are led by Massimiliano Allegri for the first time after an 11-year hiatus that saw him manage Juventus in two separate spells. They went through three managers last season: Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca, and Sergio Conceicao.
12:26 PM BST
Pre-season so far
Both sides are playing their second fixtures of pre-season, although Liverpool legs will feel much fresher than AC Milan’s, with the latter having played three days ago.
They lost 1-0 to Arsenal, courtesy of an early second half goal scored by Bukayo Saka. I’m sure Milan fans will have taken plenty from the 6-5 victory in penalties that followed the game!
Liverpool, meanwhile, are playing their first match since an emotional 3-1 win over Preston North End, the match secondary to the tributes to Diogo Jota in the first match since his passing.
12:19 PM BST
Jota tributes to continue
Liverpool’s tributes to Diogo Jota will continue today, with players wearing special shirts containing a patch saying ‘Diogo J. 20’. There will be a floral tribute before kick off, too.
The club have also announced their long term plans to pay tribute to Jota, and his brother André Silva. Jota’s number 20 will be retired at all levels of the club, and any shirts sold with his name and number on will donate all proceedings to the Liverpool Foundation, which will fund a grassroots programme in Jota’s name. The club will also recycle all physical tributes left outside Anfield and their training centre into flower beds and a memorial.
12:10 PM BST
Today’s line-ups
Liverpool
Here's how the Reds line-up in Hong Kong 👊🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2025
Watch the game LIVE on All Red Video ⤵️ #LFCPreSeason
AC Milan
Team news from Hong Kong 📋 pic.twitter.com/Oh5WzvXuJX
— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 26, 2025
12:08 PM BST
Liverpool’s busy summer... to be continued?
Having built up a reputation for modest spending and measured dealing - relative to other clubs in the top six, that is - it’s surprising to see that on top of the signings mentioned below, Liverpool are reportedly ready to spend another £120m on Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
The asking price is £150m, but even if Liverpool do barter down, they’ll break Chelsea’s record for spending in a summer transfer window. Should that happen, Arne Slot will have to hope his charges fare better. In Todd Boehly’s first window, Chelsea signed 13 players for a total of £405m with mixed fortunes. Success stories like Moises Caicedo (£115m), Cole Palmer (£40m), and PSR successes like Djordje Petrovic (£14m, sold for £25m) have been heavily mitigated by disasters like Christopher Nkunku (£53m), and the injury-hampered Romeo Lavia (£58m).
Chelsea’s PSR navigation has been viewed with contention, so how have Liverpool handled it? You can read in full here.
11:58 AM BST
Liverpool’s busy summer
Liverpool’s current summer spend totals a whopping £270m, £300m if you include the fee they paid Valencia for goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili last August - a deal that saw the Georgian immediately loaned back for the season. Should the requisite add-on clauses be triggered, their signing of Florian Wirtz for an initial £100m will become a British-record at £116m. Here are the other signings this summer:
- Hugo Ekitike - £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt
- Freddie Woodman - free from Preston North End
- Milos Kerkez - £40m from Bournemouth
- Jeremie Frimpong - £35m from Bayer Leverkusen
- Armin Pecsi - £1.5m from Puskas Akademia
11:48 AM BST
New blood in classic fixture
Liverpool and AC Milan play their second fixtures of pre-season at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong this afternoon, as the Premier League champions take another look at a number of new signings as their prolific summer transfer window rolls on. Whilst in attendance, their newest signing, Hugo Ekitike - signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m - is not named in the match-day squad, but there will be a chance for further inspection on Florian Wirtz from the start. Elsewhere new signings Freddie Woodman, Giogri Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong all feature from the bench, whilst youngsters Rio Ngumoha, Tyler Morton, and Luca Stephenson all start.
Meanwhile, Joe Gomez won’t feature, instead flying home today to get treatment on an Achilles issue having trained out in Asia earlier this week.
Liverpool TV’s pre-match coverage have reported that the squad are looking forward to their first ‘proper’ fixture of pre-season, and whilst today’s opponents languished in eighth in the Serie A last season, it’s certainly an esteemed fixture. Since the infamous Champions League final in 2005, they’ve played four times, with Milan avenging that defeat in the 2007 final before three Liverpool wins; twice in 2021 and a 3-1 win in September of last year.
Milan’s lineup is TBA, but we can expect to see some summer signings of equal stature to Liverpool’s, with none other than Luka Modric joining, alongside midfielder Samuele Ricci. They lost in real time, but won on a gratuitous penalty shootout vs Arsenal just three days ago, and have big motivation to prove themselves today after an underwhleming season last year.
Kick off is 12.30pm, stay tuned!
Category: General Sports
