Yokohama 1-3 Liverpool: Wirtz debut goal, Frimpong assists Nyoni to overturn

Goals from Wirtz, Nyoni and Ngumoha give Liverpool a victory against Yokohama.

Match Report

Liverpool's teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha capped a 3-1 friendly win over Yokohama F. Marinos with a stunning solo goal to underline his rapid rise to the Reds' first-team.  

The 16-year-old winger thrilled down the left flank with his second-half cameo, combining searing pace with mesmerising skill - but showed he has the finishing touch, too, when he drove forwards, cut inside on his right past a couple of defenders and banged in his first Liverpool goal with three minutes left to play.

There has been plenty of hype about the young attacker who became the club's youngest-ever starter with his FA Cup appearance in January. It appears that excitement is justified, with the England youth international leaving Mohamed Salah chuckling on the sidelines at his strike on Wednesday.

In a game of firsts, another rising star Trey Nyoni, 18, and record signing Florian Wirtz also bagged their maiden goals for Liverpool in the comeback win, while Hugo Ekitike made his first appearance.

Arne Slot picked a strong side in Japan as he looked for a response to Saturday's 4-2 loss to AC Milan but Liverpool were off the desired level for much of the first 45 minutes.

Mohamed Salah was the chief creator, Cody Gakpo curled against a post and debutant Ekitike, who was largely on the fringes, went close with a near-post flick but Liverpool lacked sharpness in their play.

They were too easily opened up, as well. Several chances fell the way of the hosts - who are in the J1 League relegation zone - before Giorgi Mamardashvili was at full stretch to keep out a header low to his left just before the break.

Yokohama then cut through the Liverpool defence again at the start of the second half, when sub Asahi Uenaka fired into the far corner, having already spurned a free header from a corner.

It was cause for concern for Slot - but, with Yokohama making wholesale changes, his own replacements changed the game.

Sub Curtis Jones was sharp to win the ball in midfield before bursting forwards, combining with Salah and then working the ball into the path of Wirtz to convert a simple finish to level it up.

Just six minutes later, Liverpool were celebrating again when Jeremie Frimpong curled a fine cross into the six-yard area for Nyoni to stretch and prod in his side's second.

That appeared to free Liverpool up and Ngumoha was fearless as he tried to make things out wide on the left before taking responsibility with a break through the middle to fire in a memorable third.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Gakpo steers a low shot but it comes back off the post

21' Gakpo runs into space and prods a shot but it is denied by the keeper

23' Salah's pass finds Szoboszlai but the ball bobbles away from the midfielder

25' Ekitike has a flick towards the bottom corner deflected behind

32' Hosts have made 3 substitutions

39' Mamardashvili gets down low to his left and palms away a header from Amano

50' David scores a goal for the hosts but it is ruled offside

51' Nunez misses a golden chance to put Reds in lead!

55' GOAL! Uenaka slots the ball into the corner! Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 Liverpool

59' Highlight from Yokohama F. Marinos vs Liverpool

62' Wirtz levels the score for Reds with his debut goal! Yokohama 1-1 Liverpool

68' GOAL! Nyoni nets as Frimpong assists! Yokohama F. Marinos 1-2 Liverpool

72' Ngumoha twists and turns inside the box before having a drive saved by Kimura

87' GOAL! Ngumoha nets a low shot into the corner! Yokohama F. Marinos 1-3 Liverpool

Line-ups

Yokohama F. Marinos XI: Ken Matsubara, Takuya Kida, Élber, Jun Amano, Thomas Deng, Yan Matheus, Toichi Suzuki, Jeison Quiñónes, Il-gyu Park, Kaina Tanimura, Jean Claude

Subs: Ryo Miyaichi, Kazuya Yamamura, Sandy Walsh, Dean David, Kenta Inoue, Yuri Araújo, Kota Watanabe, Asahi Uenaka, Ren Kato, Ryoya Kimura

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Konate, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz

Subs: Endo, Robertson, Freddie Woodman, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Nunez, Curtis Jones, Elliott, Jeremie Frimpong, Morton, Luca Stephenson, Ármin Pécsi, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha