Liverpool Fall to AC Milan in Hong Kong Amid Transfer Uncertainty
Liverpool's pre-season tour took a dramatic turn in Hong Kong as they were beaten 4-2 by AC Milan at a sold-out Kai Tak Stadium — a match that had excitement, tributes, and plenty of talking points both on and off the pitch.
All eyes were on Liverpool’s newest star, Florian Wirtz, who made his first start for the Reds after his massive £116 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz was deployed in a rather unusual false-nine role, filling in for Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz — both of whom were noticeably absent from the squad. While Nunez was said to be out due to injury, Diaz’s omission was linked to ongoing speculation around a potential transfer, with Bayern Munich reportedly circling.
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Despite a strong opening 10 minutes, it was Milan who struck first on the counter, with Rafael Leao blasting past Alisson. Liverpool responded through Dominik Szoboszlai, whose curling strike from the edge of the box was a moment of brilliance. But Milan quickly regained control after the break — Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Noah Okafor added two more before Cody Gakpo’s late header gave Liverpool brief hope. However, a mix-up between new goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Kostas Tsimikas gifted Okafor his second, sealing Milan's win.
Beyond the scoreline, emotion ran high before kickoff. A wreath was laid by Sir Kenny Dalglish in memory of Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a recent car accident in Spain. Liverpool players also wore “Diogo J 20” on their kits — a touching tribute to their fallen teammate.
While Wirtz’s debut was cut short at halftime, he showed flashes of brilliance. His quick thinking, clean first touch, and vision hinted at what fans can expect as he settles into the squad. Second-half minutes were given to other new signings too — Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez — offering glimpses of what Arne Slot is building.
However, concerns at the back were hard to ignore. With Joe Gomez sent home due to an Achilles injury and Jarell Quansah already sold, Liverpool are suddenly thin at center-back. Ryan Gravenberch was asked to fill in at the heart of defense, which removed a critical shield from midfield. Even manager Arne Slot admitted they haven't replaced Quansah yet, though he insists there are still enough options.
Now, with key attackers possibly on the move and defensive gaps needing to be filled, Liverpool’s summer is anything but quiet. They head to Japan next for a clash with Yokohama F. Marinos — and with the transfer window still open, there’s plenty more drama likely to unfold.
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