Wirtz Makes First Start as Liverpool Fall to Milan in Pre-Season Clash
The record-breaking signing for Liverpool At Hong Kong's sold-out Kai Tak Stadium, Florian Wirtz made his debut for his new team as Arne Slot's team lost 4-2 to AC Milan.
Ankush Pandey
Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, however, were left out of the Reds' roster due to rumours that they might depart after Hugo Ekitike arrived and Alexander Isak of Newcastle United was pursued.
Nunez missed the game due to injury, Slot stated after the game, but Colombian forward Diaz was kept out because of "speculation on his future." The players wore 'Diogo J 20' on their shirts in remembrance of their former teammate Diogo Jota, who passed away in a vehicle accident while travelling through the Spanish region of Zamora with his brother Andre Silva earlier this month. Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish put a wreath of flowers prior to kickoff.
The Italian team scored the first goal after a counterattack that saw Rafael Leao blast past Alisson Becker, despite the Premier League champions controlling the first ten minutes.
Dominik Szoboszlai equalised from the edge of the box with a delicate looping strike into Mike Maignan's goal's top corner. Early in the second half, Milan took the lead again thanks to England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The Reds were again caught off guard at the back, and Noah Okafor's incredible finish past Liverpool's new Georgia custodian Giorgi Mamardashvili made it 3-1.
Ibrahima Konate's pinpointed ball into the box was headed into the box by Cody Gakpo in added time, but Okafor scored his second goal after a terrible mistake by Mamardashvili and Kostas Tsimikas.
Liverpool will now play Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday when they travel to Japan.
Wirtz comfortable in unusual role
Against Milan, Wirtz, a £116 million acquisition from Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen, assumed an unfamiliar false nine position because Nunez and Diaz were out and newcomer Ekitike was not yet ready to play. On his left was the dynamic 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, while Mohamed Salah was in his typical right wing role for the Germany playmaker.
Although Slot is anticipated to deploy Wirtz as a narrow left-sided forward or an attacking midfielder behind the striker, he demonstrated in Hong Kong that he could join the forward line from an advanced centre position. His quick thinking and initial touch gave him an advantage over his opponents and created room for him to advance with the ball.
Fans were disappointed when he did not return for the second half, but they were able to see Liverpool's other new additions, left-back Milos Kerkez and right-back Jeremie Frimpong, as they were introduced at halftime.
Liverpool look short at the back
Liverpool now has just two healthy senior centre backs after it was announced prior to kickoff that versatile defender Joe Gomez had gone back to England to work on an Achilles ailment.
With Virgil van Dijk starting the first half and Konate replacing him as captain in the second, Liverpool's defence appeared vulnerable in both halves. The typical midfield shield was absent since Ryan Gravenberch and Van Dijk started at the centre of the defence in Gomez's place.
After Jarell Quansah moved to Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool already lacked a central defender. Andrew Robertson played centre back in the team's preseason victory over Preston North End, and now it was Tsimikas' chance to step in. Slot, though, stated: "I don't believe we have a centre-back problem.
Despite our preference for Ryan as a number six, he demonstrated that he can play that position and did so well. "There, Wataru Endo is able to perform. Even though we have plenty of possibilities, Jarell Quansah did go, and we haven't yet found a replacement.
Gomez's injury may heighten interest in Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, who has 12 months left on his contract and has been linked to a move by Liverpool this summer.
