Liverpool’s second match in the US ended in a 2-1 victory over Man City as Jurgen Klopp‘s side came from behind to win.
Man City 1-2 Liverpool
MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Pre-Season Friendly (6)
Goals
Sane 57′
Salah 62′ (assist – Camacho)
Mane 90′ pen (assist – Solanke)
First-half XI: Karius; Clyne, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner; Lallana, Jones, Sturridge.
The Reds had a far more senior-looking side out than their Premier League rivals, but that wasn’t really reflected in terms of the early possession.
A poor pitch made passing quickly and decisively difficult, and the Reds struggled to find fluency as an attacking force as a result.
The first chance fell City’s way, but Nmecha’s shot was saved by Loris Karius, before the rebound was diverted wide.
Liverpool’s first real attempt came around the 20-minute mark as Curtis Jones drifted in off the left, but his attempted curler was too central and saved by Claudio Bravo.
Indeed, the first 30 minutes saw more big tackles than big chances for the Reds, with Fabinho, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne all getting stuck in.
Andy Robertson produced perhaps the most wild tackle of the half inside his own penalty box—and was fortunate to not give away a penalty.
Adam Lallana stabbed an effort wide after a corner, before Jones again got himself involved, testing Bravo from distance, and Wijnaldum smashed one over, as the Reds mounted their best spell of pressure around the half-hour mark.
Jones has impressed throughout pre-season and he was comfortably the best player in the first half, heading over just before half-time.
At the break, Klopp made five changes including the introduction of Sadio Mane for his first appearance of the summer.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Ragnar Klavan, Ben Woodburn and Dom Solanke also entered the fray at the interval.
It was Mane who impacted first and he almost broke the deadlock just minutes into the half, but his bundled effort was cleared off the line. Moments later, Solanke screwed one wide of the near post.
At the other end it was the turn of sub goalkeeper Kelleher to show his worth, saving with his feet to deny Leroy Sane from close range.
The Reds had started the second half far better, but after Van Dijk fired a free-kick over and Solanke had a goal ruled out for offside, Sane sprinted away and finished well for the game’s opening goal.
On the hour mark, Klopp made more changes—and the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Mo Salah‘s entrance.
And with reason: his second touch ended in an equaliser, with fellow sub Rafa Camacho delivering a great cross which Salah headed home from six yards.
The Egyptian King looked sharp immediately and had one effort blocked and saw another struck the woodwork within 10 minutes of his entrance.
Liverpool dominated the closing stages of the game but missed a succession of chances to win—until Solanke was barged to the ground in the penalty box deep into stoppage time.
Sadio Mane stepped up and took the penalty, and buried it to earn a deserved win for the Reds in the second of their three-match tour of the US.
Next up, Jose Mourinho and the other half of Manchester.
Liverpool: Karius (Kelleher 45′); Clyne (Camacho 62′), Gomez (Klavan 45′), Van Dijk (Phillips 62′), Robertson (Moreno 62′); Fabinho (Chirivella 62′), Wijnaldum (Woodburn 45′), Milner (Grujic 62′); Lallana (Mane 45′), Jones (Salah 62′), Sturridge (Solanke 45′).
TIA Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah
Next match: Man United (N) – Pre-Season Friendly – July 28
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