Karlsruher SC 2-4 Liverpool — Player Ratings | OneFootball

An end-to-end game, with periods of dominance from both sides, ultimately ended in a 4-2 comeback win for Liverpool thanks to a quick-fire brace from Diogo Jota at the death.

Liverpool got off to an absolute perfect start, as Darwin Nunez opened the scoring inside three minutes!

The club's new number nine tried to be unselfish and find Mo Salah on the edge of the box, but when the ball eventually found it's way back to the Uruguayan, he made no mistake and calmly slotted it into the bottom corner.

The Reds' intense start didn't end there, as a corner in the 8th minute saw Virgil van Dijk drive a header past Karlsruher's keeper - but the effort was ruled out for a foul in the process. There were no complaints from Liverpool, however.

After the opening 10 minutes, the game slowed down significantly - no doubt due to a mixture of the scorching heat and the gradual return to match-fitness.

With around five minutes to go until half-time, Karlsruher equalised courtesy of a Lars Stindl screamer and Liverpool's first-half side left the field level with the hosts.

The half-time whistle also brought an end to Dominik Szoboszlai's Liverpool debut. The Hungarian looked comfortable in midfield, donning the legendary number eight shirt.

Immediately after the second-half began, things got worse for the Reds as Sebastian Jung broke away down the right side and powered a strike into the roof of the net. Not a good start for Liverpool's second XI and new number 10, Alexis Mac Allister, on his Reds debut.

However, a very strong period of possession from Liverpool culminated in a fantastic equaliser in the 68th minute from Cody Gakpo (who was superb all game). A header down from Diogo Jota - thanks to a Joe Gomez cross - landed perfectly in the Dutchman's path, who turned and leathered it into the top corner.

A quiet final 20 minutes followed as Liverpool looked to have drawn their first pre-season game, before Diogo Jota expertly buried a quick-fire brace in the final moments of the game to secure a well-fought victory for the Reds.

Next up on the pre-season schedule: Furth vs Liverpool on Monday July 24th at 12pm.

Liverpool first-half player ratings (4-3-3):

GK: Kelleher (6), RB: Bradley (6), CB: Konate (5), CB: Van Dijk (5), LB: Robertson (5), CM: Alexander-Arnold (7), CM: Clark (6), CM: Szoboszlai (6), RW: Salah (6), ST: Nunez (7), LW: Diaz (6).

Liverpool second-half player ratings (4-3-3):

GK: Jaros (6), RB: Gomez (6), CB: Matip (6), CB: Quansah (7), LB: Tsimikas (6), CM: Scanlon (7), CM: McConnell (6), CM: Mac Allister (6), RW: Doak (8), ST: Jota (9), LW: Gakpo (8).

Subs: Koumas (6)