Liverpool set new record despite 4-2 defeat v AC Milan in Hong Kong
Liverpool’s Asia tour got underway on Saturday as the Reds played AC Milan in Hong Kong.
Arne Slot’s squad selection made headlines, with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez both not featuring as the pair prepare to leave ahead of the new season.
Whilst their departures could raise useful funds to help secure a blockbuster move for Alexander Isak, supporters will be more concerned with their 4-2 defeat against AC Milan.
The Reds conceded four goals in what turned out to be a record-setting match against the Italian giants.
Liverpool v AC Milan breaks attendance record in Hong Kong
Despite the 2-4 defeat, there were still positives that Slot could take from the pre-season fixture.
Perhaps the biggest of these positives was the first-half cameo from 16-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, with the teenager’s performance impressing onlookers.
Among those watching were the 49,704 people who attended the fixture in what was a record-setting attendance at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong.
Florian Wirtz made his first appearance for Liverpool in front of fans, with the German also impressing in his first-half performance.
However, a flat second-half performance was disappointing, with a comical mix-up between Kostas Tsimikas and Giorgi Mamardashvili gifting Milan a fourth goal.
The error from Tsimikas led to criticism on social media from supporters, with many feeling like the Reds should sell the Greek defender before the transfer window closes.
The Reds still have multiple sales to make in the summer
Tsimikas’ mistake in pre-season is a reminder that Liverpool must be ruthless in shipping out these players that Slot does not frequently depend on.
With Milos Kerkez’s arrival, the road to first-team football was already a long one for Tsimikas, but after his latest mistake, it may have become virtually impossible.
At one point, the left-back looked set to join Leeds United, but the newly promoted club have since secured the services of Gabriel Gudmundsson instead.
Sales of Nunez, Diaz, Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa could potentially fund incomings that would propel this Liverpool side into a different stratosphere.
Despite Chiesa only arriving last summer, if his sale facilitated the arrival of a winger of Rodrygo’s quality, then Scousers would be quick to forget about the Italian’s spell in L4.
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