Record attendance of 67,032 set a new J.League matchday benchmark

Report: Liverpool Defeat Yokohama in Front of Record-Breaking Crowd in Japan

Record Attendance Sets Tone for Summer Tour

Liverpool continued their 2025 pre-season tour with a 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos, played out in front of a record crowd of 67,032 at Nissan Stadium. The attendance set a new benchmark for a J.League-hosted match, highlighting the club’s enduring global appeal and the growing interest in top-level European football across Asia.

This fixture formed the second leg of Liverpool’s summer schedule, following their 2-1 win over AC Milan in Hong Kong, which had drawn 49,704 spectators. Arne Slot’s squad – a mix of experienced professionals and promising young players – again delivered a performance shaped by energy and structure, despite undergoing a number of rotations throughout.

Early Control but No First-Half Reward

Liverpool controlled much of the opening 45 minutes, establishing territorial dominance and regularly advancing into dangerous areas. However, a lack of composure in front of goal and some resilient defending kept the match goalless at the break.

An early attempt from Cody Gakpo, striking the base of the post following a determined run by Conor Bradley, set the tone for Liverpool’s attacking intent. Florian Wirtz saw a deflected effort drift narrowly wide, while Mohamed Salah was central to the creative phases, playing two incisive passes – one to Gakpo and another to Dominik Szoboszlai – that opened up the opposition but were not converted.

At the other end, Giorgi Mamardashvili was called into action late in the half to deny Jun Amano, who directed a header towards the bottom corner in a rare Yokohama counter-attack.

Goals Flow After Half-Time as Rotation Takes Effect

The second half brought a flurry of changes, both in personnel and momentum. Darwin Núñez missed a good chance soon after coming on, but it was the hosts who struck first, with Ren Kato threading a precise through-ball to Ueneka, who finished clinically past Mamardashvili.

That goal served as a catalyst for Liverpool’s response. Japan captain Wataru Endo was introduced to warm applause from the home crowd, and shortly after, Curtis Jones sparked an attacking sequence by winning possession in midfield. Salah, once again involved, returned a quick pass that set up Wirtz, who calmly found the net for his first Liverpool goal.

Slot made a further seven substitutions, keeping only Mamardashvili on the pitch from the starting XI. The changes added freshness, and it was two of the club’s brightest prospects who completed the comeback.

Youth Talent Steps Up in Final Moments

Trey Nyoni, operating from the right, produced a well-timed acrobatic finish after connecting with Jeremie Frimpong’s far-post cross, before Rio Ngumoha sealed the result. The youngster drove forward with confidence and beat the goalkeeper with a low strike, adding gloss to the scoreline and underlining the club’s development depth.

As Liverpool’s preparations continue ahead of the new campaign, the positive contributions from their academy ranks will not go unnoticed. Slot’s willingness to blend experienced core players with emerging talent may prove a valuable asset across multiple competitions this season.

Key Takeaways from Liverpool’s Win

• Record attendance of 67,032 set a new J.League matchday benchmark
• Strong first-half showing but lacked finishing edge
• Goals from Wirtz, Nyoni and Ngumoha secured second pre-season win
• Endo’s return to Japan received warm reception
• Slot rotated heavily, offering key minutes to young players