Manager Arne Slot says Liverpool have “many” features to enhance and “have to do higher” after his depleted squad misplaced 4-2 to Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The reigning Premier League champions didn’t deploy a centre-forward, with striker Hugo Ekitike – signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an preliminary £69m – absent alongside Darwin Nunez, who scored a hat-trick inside 9 minutes in a pleasant in opposition to Stoke City final Sunday, and Colombia worldwide Luis Diaz.
“We got here up with enjoying with two No10s and, in ball possession, that regarded actually good due to the entire staff,” stated Slot, talking to LFC TV a couple of beginning ahead line featured Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott, membership file signing Florian Wirtz and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.
“But we bought counter-attacked thrice within the first half, with one among them leading to a purpose. There had been a couple of optimistic issues however many we have to enhance.”
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Liverpool accidents: Mac Allister, Nunez, Diaz, Endo
“We had been lacking seven senior gamers and we wanted everybody to play 45 minutes, which suggests you want 20 gamers,” stated Slot, who’s approaching his second season with the membership.
“Unfortunately, then, it’s a must to play some out of place. Maybe, on account of that and another particulars, we bought counter-attacked an excessive amount of.
“One of the positions we didn’t have was the No9. Hugo wasn’t able to play but and Darwin was injured, Lucho [Luis Diaz] couldn’t play.”
Slot urged the accidents sustained by Nunez and midfielder Wataru Endo are minor and stated he hopes to incorporate playmaker Alexis Mac Allister in a part of coaching on Monday and Tuesday.
Centre-back Joe Gomez has returned house for rehabilitation on an Achilles difficulty.
“We thought it was higher to evaluate it again in England and for him to work on it with a view to come again into the staff in additional ultimate circumstances for him,” stated Slot. “We hope and anticipate to have him again quickly.”
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When will Hugo Ekitike play for Liverpool?
Slot stated he expects France Under-21 ahead Ekitike, who scored 15 objectives in 33 video games for Eintracht Frankfurt final season, to play “some minutes” when Liverpool go to Japanese staff Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday (11:30 BST / 06:30 ET / 03:30 PT).
The Dutchman was extra apprehensive by Liverpool’s frailties on the different finish of the pitch, with Rafael Leao, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Noah Okafor all hanging on the break earlier than Giorgi Mamardashvili’s error allowed Okafor to faucet in throughout second-half added time.
“Conceding 4 objectives is certainly not one thing we’re used to or need,” rued Slot. “One of the explanations we bought counter-attacked is as a result of we misplaced a couple of duels – [it was] too simple.
“Crystal Palace [who Liverpool meet in the Community Shield on August 10] had been a giant menace on the counter-attack final season, so we have to do higher.
“If you have a look at the second purpose we concede, we didn’t defend our proper aspect aggressively sufficient.”
Liverpool vs Milan: Milos Kerkez ‘aggressive’
Taking on a Milan aspect who misplaced 1-0 to a dominant Arsenal in Singapore on Wednesday, Liverpool completed on 69% of possession and had 18 of the 28 makes an attempt between the groups.
Dominik Szoboszlai curled in an eye catching equaliser to make the rating 1-1 and Cody Gakpo briefly made it 3-2 throughout second-half added time by heading in Ibrahima Konate’s supply.
Wideman Jeremie Frimpong – signed from Leverkusen for £29.5m in May – produced an aesthetic piece of management to convey down Gakpo’s lengthy ball and take a look at half-time substitute goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano after Milan had scored their third.
Slot was additionally impressed by £40m left-back Milos Kerkez. “The massive probability Cody bought, which he missed together with his left foot, began off with the identical ball, the place Milos was aggressive and received that duel,” stated Slot.
“These are the small margins and particulars that it’s a must to be actually good at each single different time – in any other case, at this degree, you get punished.”
Liverpool staff vs Milan
First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker and captain Virgil van Dijk, who Rafael Leao escaped from for the opening purpose, had been among the many gamers to begin.
Winger Elliott joined them after enjoying a starring function in England’s Euro Under-21 triumph in June, and defensive midfielder Tyler Morton – additionally an vital a part of the Young Lions’ squad – was substituted off throughout the first half and on once more throughout the second.
Georgia goalkeeper Mamardashvili, who value an preliminary £29.9m from Valencia earlier than the 2024/25 season, was one among 9 gamers to come back on on the interval, with solely 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni and Ryan Gravenberch retained from the beginning line-up.
Liverpool beginning XI: Alisson; Stephenson, Morton, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Elliott; Salah
Liverpool second-half beginning XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Tsimikas, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Frimpong, Nyoni, Gakpo; Doak
Liverpool pre season fixtures 2025/26
July 30 vs Yohohama FM (Japan)
August 5 vs Villarreal (H)
August 9 vs Athletic Club (H)
When does Liverpool’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?
The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will likely be on the weekend of August 16 2025, with Liverpool beginning the motion at house to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15 at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).
The recreation in opposition to one of many shock packages of 2024/25 is being proven stay within the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.
The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the similar time on May 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there will likely be no fixture on December 24.
