Liverpool 2-4 Milan: Loftus-Cheek & Okafor's goal gift Rossoneri friendly win

Former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored as Premier League champions Liverpool were beaten 4-2 by AC Milan on Saturday in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.

Match Report

Liverpool, with record signing Florian Wirtz making his first start, dominated possession under the closed roof at Kai Tak Stadium, but a shaky defence was punished for all four Milan goals.

Rafael Leao opened the scoring for the Italian side on 10 minutes with Dominik Szoboszlai's superb strike equalising 16 minutes later to make it 1-1 at half-time.

But Loftus-Cheek, six minutes after the break, and two goals from substitute Noah Okafor, either side of Cody Gakpo's late header, gave AC Milan the victory.

Liverpool's Hong Kong fans vastly outnumbered those supporting AC Milan in the 49,704 sellout crowd.

They paid a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota, who passed away earlier this month in a car crash.

Flowers were laid by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish in front of fans, who responded by holding up a mosaic spelling out 'DJ20' in honour of Jota's number 20 shirt, which has been retired by the club.

Leao, too, remembered his fellow Portuguese player Jota as he offered a silent prayer and formed the number 20 with his fingers after scoring the opener.

Wirtz played 45 minutes and looked comfortable directing operations, showing hints of why Bayer Leverkusen were paid a reported British transfer record $150 million for the German playmaker.

Other new Liverpool signings, left-back Milos Kerkez and right-back Jeremie Frimpong, both came on as substitutes at half-time.

But striker Hugo Ekitike, who was signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported $92 million, was not ready to take part, having only flown in to join his new teammates two days earlier.

Liverpool started without a recognised central striker as Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have both been linked with moves away from Anfield, were left out of the matchday squad.

Liverpool will now fly to Japan to face Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday.

Liverpool revealed earlier that full-back Joe Gomez had flown home for treatment on a minor Achilles problem.

Match Events

0' Sir Dalglish lays floral tribute in loving memory of Diogo Jota and his brother

0' The match is about to start!

1' Salah tries to break in the box but it is cleared by the defender

5' Liverpool almost make a mistake but Pulisic's effort is saved by Alisson

6' Leao juggles the ball but it's straight into the grasp of Alisson

13' GOAL! Leao shifts the ball into space and beats Alisson! Liverpool 0-1 Milan

20' Applause breaks out around the stadium in memory of Diogo Jota

22' Pulisic seems to have injury but he gets back to the pitch after treatment

26' GOAL! Szoboszlai scoops a wonderful effort into top corner! Liverpool 1-1 Milan

35' Pulisic cuts into space and slides a low shot a whisker wide of Alisson's post

36' Robertson goes down inside the area under a challenge from Tomori

41' Robertson makes keeper to punch the ball away but Salah's following shot is wide

51' GOAL! Loftus-Cheek rolls a low shot into the corner! Liverpool 1-2 Milan

60' GOAL! Okafor adds the third as Saelemaekers assists! Liverpool 1-3 Milan

62' Gravenberch takes a long shot but the ball clips the top of the bar & goes over

64' Frimpong collects a cross-field pass but his near-post shot is saved by keeper

73' Morton strikes a dropping ball over the crossbar

80' Match Event for Liverpool vs Milan

86' Morton plays a pass to find Gakpo who scoops the ball into the side netting

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Elliott, Morton, Wirtz, Luca Stephenson, Rio Ngumoha

Subs: Freddie Woodman, Tsimikas, Konate, Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Ben Doak, Trey Nyoni

Milan XI: Maignan, Loftus-Cheek, Tomori, Pulisic, Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers, Samuele Ricci, Youssouf Fofana, Malick Thiaw, S. Pavlovic, Davide Bartesaghi

Subs: Pietro Terracciano, Pervis Estupiñán, Chukwueze, Gabbia, Okafor, Yunus Musah, Lorenzo Colombo, Warren Bondo, Terracciano, Jimenez, Matteo Duțu, Torriani, Christian Comotto, Mattia Liberali, Vittorio Magni