Liverpool fall to clinical AC Milan in pre-season counter-attack lesson | OneFootball

Liverpool Outgunned by AC Milan in Chaotic Pre-Season Clash

Counter-punching clinic exposes Liverpool’s makeshift set-up

In the humid haze of pre-season preparation, Arne Slot’s Liverpool were offered their first taste of elite opposition — and AC Milan didn’t hesitate to turn up the heat. A 4-2 defeat, orchestrated through a masterclass in counter-attacking football, served not just as a reality check, but a reminder that experimentation carries its risks at this level.

Slot’s line-up was defined by unfamiliarity: no recognised striker, no consistent centre-back pairing, and a midfield still trying to find rhythm. The result? Chaos. Particularly in transition.

Rafael Leão was the first to expose Liverpool’s vulnerabilities. Fed by Christian Pulisic — once a thorn at Stamford Bridge, now Milan’s creative outlet — the Portuguese forward galloped into space and rifled past Virgil van Dijk, who afforded him just enough room to make it count. Leão celebrated by paying tribute to Diogo Jota, but the damage to Liverpool had already been done.

Szoboszlai impresses, but support is lacking

There were flickers of fluency from Liverpool, none brighter than Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian midfielder, tasked with bringing order to a fractured setup, carried himself with composure and conviction. His curling equaliser into the top corner, fashioned after fine movement from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, was as precise as it was emphatic.

Yet that goal proved the exception, not the pattern. Florian Wirtz, operating as a false nine, showed grace in tight spaces but lacked a final pass recipient.

Slot’s striking options remain limited. Hugo Ekitike, recently signed and currently in Asia, was absent from the matchday squad — his return can’t come soon enough, especially with upcoming matches against Yokohama FM and Athletic Bilbao before the Community Shield showdown with Crystal Palace.

Defensive disarray leaves Liverpool chasing shadows

Without two specialist centre-backs on the pitch at any time, Liverpool’s rearguard always felt like a patchwork. Kostas Tsimikas and Ibrahima Konaté were given the second-half assignment, but they crumbled under Milan’s speed and precision.

The Italians’ third came when Leão humiliated Conor Bradley out wide and delivered a cutback for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, whose footwork matched the finish. Milan’s fourth was a gift: a breakdown in communication between Tsimikas and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili left Noah Okafor with the simplest of finishes — his second of the night.

Frimpong and Bradley still searching for balance

Jeremie Frimpong’s shift further up the right flank offered promise — his dribbling remains an asset — but he too struggled without a focal point to link with. On the same flank, Connor Bradley endured a bruising afternoon, repeatedly exposed by Milan’s relentless waves of attack.

Liverpool’s second goal, a late header from Cody Gakpo, arrived too late to inspire a comeback. This was a match defined not by Liverpool’s intent, but by Milan’s ruthlessness — three breakaway goals underscoring the difference in sharpness.

As pre-season continues, Slot will know these lessons are part of the process. But against opponents as ruthless as AC Milan, even a dress rehearsal can sting.