Manager Arne Slot says Liverpool have “many” aspects to improve and “need to do better” after his depleted squad lost 4-2 to Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The reigning Premier League champions did not deploy a centre-forward, with striker Hugo Ekitike – signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m – absent alongside Darwin Nunez, who scored a hat-trick inside nine minutes in a friendly against Stoke City last Sunday, and Colombia international Luis Diaz.
“We came up with playing with two No10s and, in ball possession, that looked really good because of the whole team,” said Slot, speaking to LFC TV about a starting forward line featured Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott, club record signing Florian Wirtz and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.
“But we got counter-attacked three times in the first half, with one of them resulting in a goal. There were a few positive things but many we need to improve.”
Liverpool injuries: Mac Allister, Nunez, Diaz, Endo
“We were missing seven senior players and we needed everyone to play 45 minutes, which means you need 20 players,” said Slot, who is approaching his second season with the club.
“Unfortunately, then, you have to play some out of position. Maybe, as a result of that and some other details, we got counter-attacked too much.
“One of the positions we didn’t have was the No9. Hugo wasn’t ready to play yet and Darwin was injured, Lucho [Luis Diaz] couldn’t play.”
Slot suggested the injuries sustained by Nunez and midfielder Wataru Endo are minor and said he hopes to include playmaker Alexis Mac Allister in part of training on Monday and Tuesday.
Centre-back Joe Gomez has returned home for rehabilitation on an Achilles issue.
“We thought it was better to assess it back in England and for him to work on it in order to come back into the team in more ideal circumstances for him,” said Slot. “We hope and expect to have him back soon.”
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When will Hugo Ekitike play for Liverpool?
Slot said he expects France Under-21 forward Ekitike, who scored 15 goals in 33 games for Eintracht Frankfurt last season, to play “some minutes” when Liverpool visit Japanese team Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday (11:30 BST / 06:30 ET / 03:30 PT).
The Dutchman was more worried by Liverpool’s frailties at the other end of the pitch, with Rafael Leao, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Noah Okafor all striking on the break before Giorgi Mamardashvili’s error allowed Okafor to tap in during second-half added time.
“Conceding four goals is definitely not something we are used to or want,” rued Slot. “One of the reasons we got counter-attacked is because we lost a few duels – [it was] too easy.
“Crystal Palace [who Liverpool meet in the Community Shield on August 10] were a big threat on the counter-attack last season, so we need to do better.
“If you look at the second goal we concede, we didn’t defend our right side aggressively enough.”
Liverpool vs Milan: Milos Kinds ‘Aggressive’
Taking on a Milan side who lost 1-0 to a dominant Arsenal in Singapore on Wednesday, Liverpool finished on 69% of possession and had 18 of the 28 attempts between the teams.
Dominik Szoboszlai curled in an eye-catching equaliser to make the score 1-1 and Cody Gakpo briefly made it 3-2 during second-half added time by heading in Ibrahima Konate’s delivery.
Wideman Jeremie Frimpong – signed from Leverkusen for £29.5m in May – produced a classy piece of control to bring down Gakpo’s long ball and test half-time substitute goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano after Milan had scored their third.
Slot was also impressed by £40m left-back Milos Kerkez. “The big chance Cody got, which he missed with his left foot, started off with the same ball, where Milos was aggressive and won that duel,” said Slot.
“These are the small margins and details that you have to be really good at every single other time – otherwise, at this level, you get punished.”
Liverpool team vs Milan
First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker and captain Virgil van Dijk, who Rafael Leao escaped from for the opening goal, were among the players to start.
Winger Elliott joined them after playing a starring role in England’s Euro Under-21 triumph in June, and defensive midfielder Tyler Morton – also an important part of the Young Lions’ squad – was substituted off during the first half and on again during the second.
Georgia goalkeeper Mamardashviliwho cost an initial £29.9m from Valencia before the 2024/25 season, was one of nine players to come on at the interval, with only 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni and Ryan Gravenberch retained from the starting line-up.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Stephenson, Morton, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Elliott; Salah
Liverpool second-half starting XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Conate, Symbols; Gravenberch, Jones; Frimpong, Nyoni, Gakpo; Doak
Liverpool pre season fixtures 2025/26
July 30 vs Yohohama FM (Japan)
August 5 vs Villarreal (H)
August 9 vs Athletic Club (H)
When does Liverpool’s 2025/26 Premier League season start?
The first round of Premier League matches in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 16 2025, with Liverpool starting the action at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15 at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).
The game against one of the surprise packages of 2024/25 is being shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League, Ultra and Main Event.
The last round of matches this season will all start at the same time on May 24 2026. No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.
