AC Milan outclassed Premier League champions Liverpool 4-2 in an action-packed pre-season friendly on Saturday at the sold-out Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, with former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek getting on the scoresheet.
In a high-tempo encounter under the closed roof, Liverpool saw plenty of the ball but were repeatedly undone by defensive lapses that Milan ruthlessly exploited.
Rafael Leão put the Italians ahead just ten minutes into the match, finishing calmly after a slick move. Liverpool responded through Dominik Szoboszlai, whose stunning long-range strike in the 26th minute ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Six minutes after the restart, Loftus-Cheek restored Milan’s lead with a precise finish, before substitute Noah Okafor netted twice to put the game beyond Liverpool’s reach. Cody Gakpo’s late header offered little consolation as Milan sealed a well-earned victory.
Emotional Tribute to Jota
The match was played in an emotionally charged atmosphere, with Liverpool fans paying tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car crash earlier this month. Club legend Kenny Dalglish laid flowers pitch-side, while the sea of red in the stands formed a striking mosaic reading “DJ20” — honouring Jota’s shirt number, which Liverpool has now retired.
Milan’s Leão also offered a poignant moment of remembrance, silently praying and forming the number 20 with his fingers after his goal, in honour of his fellow Portuguese international.
Wirtz Impresses on Debut
Highly anticipated Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz made his first start for the Reds after his record-breaking $150 million move from Bayer Leverkusen. The German playmaker, deployed in a central role, showed flashes of his class during his 45-minute outing, dictating tempo and threading passes in tight spaces.
New full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong were introduced at half-time and offered lively runs down the flanks, though Liverpool’s defensive frailties remained a concern.
Striker Hugo Ekitike, recently signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for $92 million, did not feature as he only joined the squad two days ago.
Missing Names and Transfer Speculation
Liverpool were notably without a recognised central striker, with both Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz left out of the matchday squad amid ongoing transfer speculation.
Meanwhile, full-back Joe Gomez has flown back to England to receive treatment for a minor Achilles issue and is expected to miss the next leg of the tour.
What’s Next?
Liverpool now head to Japan, where they are scheduled to face Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday as part of their ongoing pre-season campaign.
