Liverpool suffered their first defeat of pre-season under Arne Slot as they were beaten 4-2 by AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.
In a humid encounter, the Reds found the net through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo but were undone by defensive lapses and late errors that Milan capitalised on.
The Dutchman rotated heavily, using 21 players across the 90 minutes, splitting the game into two halves to manage fitness and assess options. Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives alongside some clear warning signs about areas that require improvement ahead of the new Premier League season.
Florian Wirtz’s debut
Pre-season debuts can be overhyped, but in just 45 minutes, the reigning champions marquee summer signing showed why so much excitement surrounds him.
Deployed between the lines, Wirtz immediately stood out for his composure. Time and again he drifted into pockets of space, received the ball on the half-turn and dictated the tempo. His passing was progressive rather than safe, and his awareness of movement around him was impressive for someone just a few weeks into a new environment.
What stood out most was his relationship forming with Mohamed Salah. More than once, the 22-year-old looked for the Egyptian’s run early and delivered passes accurately. On another day, he could easily have ended his debut with two assists but Salah, unusually, opted to return the ball instead of finishing himself during one flowing attack. For now it’s just a cameo, but Liverpool supporters can be encouraged by how comfortably their new number 10 fitted into a team he has only just met.
Rio Ngumoha’s progression
If Florian Wirtz’s performance met expectations, Rio Ngumoha’s was an unexpected standout. Now three friendlies into pre-season, the teenager is making a compelling case for himself with goal contributions. Having had a hand in the opener at Preston and scoring a deflected effort against Stoke City, on the evidence so far the 16-year-old is making himself very difficult to ignore for the head coach.
Operating on the left wing, Ngumoha was direct, confident, and bold, unafraid to take on defenders with sharp changes of pace that unsettled Milan’s backline. His quick movement and incisive pass helped initiate the build-up to Szoboszlai’s equaliser, and he later forced a strong save from Mike Maignan with a threatening attempt of his own.
What is most striking at just 16, Ngumoha has shown remarkable composure playing alongside senior professionals. There is no hesitation, no sign of being overawed. In fact, he often seemed to quicken Liverpool’s tempo in transition. His fearless approach and ability to speed up counter-attacks demonstrated a maturity beyond his years.
Given that Luis Díaz’s future is seemingly coming to a resolution with an expected move to Bayern Munich, the teenager’s progression could prove timely and offer Liverpool an exciting alternative down the left flank. While the first-team door will not be thrown wide open just yet, performances like these will ensure Slot keeps him close to the senior setup throughout the season.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s new role
Dominik Szoboszlai has been one of the more intriguing talking points of Liverpool’s summer. Used at in experimental right-back role against Stoke, there were questions about how the arrival of Wirtz might affect his place in midfield.
Here, back in the engine room, the Hungary captain delivered a resounding response. Although he was deployed further back in the Liverpool midfield as a result of Wirtz coming in and Elliott starting too, Szoboszlai excelled. His equaliser midway through the first half was as good as anything seen on the night, a curling effort from the edge of the box that dipped just inside the post. Beyond the goal, Szoboszlai was one of the side liveliest players. He pressed Milan’s midfield relentlessly, drove forward with the ball and constantly looked to create openings for those ahead of him.
There has been chatter in some quarters that Szoboszlai could be the man to suffer from Wirtz’s arrival. It is true that he played most of last season as a number 10, but not that his game time will suddenly be limited. If anything, it seems to have sharpened his determination to remain a key figure. The combination of energy and technical quality in his performance will have reassured Slot that, despite greater competition his influence remains intact and the early evidence is the midfielder is relishing the challenge.
Defensive frailties
If there was one glaring issue on display in Hong Kong, it was the fragility of Liverpool’s defensive resources.
With Joe Gomez sidelined by an achilles injury and Ibrahima Konaté still building fitness, Arne Slot had little choice but to field improvised centre-back pairings. Virgil van Dijk and Konaté each played 45 minutes, but for the remainder of the game Ryan Gravenberch, Kostas Tsimikas and even Tyler Morton were all asked to fill in.
The lack of cohesion was evident. Milan’s forwards consistently found space in transition, and a late mix-up involving Tsimikas and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili gifted the Italian side their fourth goal. While Gravenberch has previously been trusted in that role, playing him at centre-back robs the side of his influence in midfield.
This has been a recurring theme and the champions are just one injury away from a serious problem in this area. Pre-season is no time to draw sweeping conclusions, but it has again underlined why an additional senior centre-back remains a priority before the transfer window closes.
Fitness and rhythm are still being built
Liverpool leave Hong Kong with plenty to reflect on. The defeat was a setback in the scoreline, but there were more encouraging signs than worrying ones. Pre-season defeats are rarely cause for alarm, they are checkpoints and the coming weeks of the transfer market could yet shape how well Slot’s team can build on these early foundations.
What remains are the lessons to be learnt and Slot now has a few clear ones as the Premier League champions continue their journey towards the new campaign.
