Hugo Ekitike nearly made the proper introduction to the Liverpool followers with a intelligent aim on his debut because the Merseysiders performed out a goalless first half with Yokohama F Marinos of their newest pre-season pleasant within the Far East.
The sport on the Nissan Stadium went forward regardless of Tsunami fears in northern Japan and there was a transferring tribute to Diogo Jota, killed earlier this month in a automotive crash in Spain, earlier than kick off.
When the motion did get underway, it was Liverpool who dominated possession in opposition to a workforce that sit 18th within the 20-team J.League.
Ekitike was handed his debut following his big-money transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt and lined-up in an attacking XI that additionally contained Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
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Gakpo threatens for Liverpool
And it was Gakpo that had the primary likelihood for Liverpool with a curling effort that struck the right-hand submit.
The Netherlands worldwide got here shut once more with a shot that was saved whereas Dominik Szoboszlai noticed an opportunity smuggled clear by the house defence after he went around the goalkeeper.
Ekitike nearly broke the impasse a minute later, cleverly diverting Conor Bradley’s low cross in direction of the goal however seeing his effort properly saved by dwelling goalkeeper Park Il-Gyu.
At the opposite finish, Reds goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was additionally wanting assured.
Having dropped a clanger within the weekend defeat to AC Milan, the Georgian, who continues to face in for Alisson whereas he addresses a private subject in his native Brazil, produced an outstanding one-handed cease to disclaim Jun Amano’s header.
