AC Milan outscore Liverpool 4–2 in Hong Kong pre-season clash
Liverpool were beaten 4–2 by AC Milan at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium, with £116 million record signing Florian Wirtz making his debut appearance for the Reds.
Despite earlier optimism, the match exposed defensive vulnerabilities and raised questions over depth ahead of the new season.
Match Action
10′ – Christian Pulisic’s precise pass released Rafael Leão, who sprinted down the left before firing past Alisson at a tight angle to open the scoring.
26′ – Liverpool equalized when Rio Ngumoha’s clever play sparked a move that allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to curl a fine strike into the far corner from outside the box.
52′ – Milan reclaimed the lead when Leão again broke free down Liverpool’s right, laying the ball off for Ruben Loftus‑Cheek, who slotted home with composure.
59′ – On the counter, Alexis Saelemaekers delivered a low cross for Noah Okafor, who dispatched a clinical finish to make it 3–1.
90’+3′ – Cody Gakpo headed in a consolation goal from an Ibrahima Konaté delivery.
90’+4′ – A late mix-up between Kostas Tsimikas and substitute goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili allowed Okafor to tap in from an empty net and seal Milan’s win.
Key Moments & Standout Performers
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s record signing, started up front but didn’t quite settle into the game. He did show glimpses of quality, though the Reds struggled to protect him defensively behind.
At just 16, Rio Ngumoha caught the eye with his pace and creativity, contributing the assist for Szoboszlai’s equalizer and standing out despite the result.
In the second half, new signing Jeremie Frimpong impressed with his electric runs and threat from wide on Liverpool’s right, even as the team bled goals in transition
ESPN.com
Pre-Match Tribute
Liverpool fans paid a moving tribute to former forward Diogo Jota, who tragically died earlier in July along with his brother. A wreath laid by Kenny Dalglish and a fan mosaic reading “DJ 20” honored the player whose shirt number has since been retired.
Tactical Notes & Squad Observations
Manager Arne Slot used the match to experiment heavily, making 20 player appearances and deploying many out of their usual positions. Key absences included Luis Díaz (omitted amid transfer speculation) and Darwin Núñez (missing due to a minor fitness issue), while Joe Gomez flew home early with an Achilles injury. Slot later acknowledged the challenge of conceding four goals but emphasized the squad rotation and lack of defensive continuity as contributing factors.
What Lies Ahead
Despite the defeat, Liverpool sees this as a fitness-focused outing rather than an early alarm bell. Their next match is against Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan on Wednesday, July 30, as they round off their Asia tour. Their Premier League title defense begins at home to Bournemouth on August 15.