Liverpool’s new boys mixed handy Arne Slot’s facet a 3-1 win towards Yokohama F Marinos within the second sport of their pre-season tour of Asia right now.
The match went forward regardless of tsunami warnings in Japan and the Reds will likely be happy it did after second half objectives from Florian Wirtz and children Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha noticed Liverpool come from behind to safe victory.
Asahi Uenaka had put the hosts forward however Wirtz levelled earlier than former Bayer Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong got here off the bench to produce the cross for Nyoni’s strike. Ngumoha added a 3rd late on with a stunning particular person aim.
Hugo Ekitike made his Liverpool debut following his £69million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt and confirmed flashes of high quality – coming near a aim with a intelligent backheeled effort earlier than making method at half-time.
Gakpo seems shiny for Liverpool
It was a welcome win for Slot’s facet, who appeared rusty in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong.
There was a transferring tribute to Diogo Jota, killed earlier this month in a automobile crash in Spain, earlier than kick off and when the motion did get underway, it was Liverpool who dominated possession towards a staff that sit 18th within the 20-team J.League.
Ekitike lined-up in an attacking XI that additionally contained Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
And it was Gakpo that had the primary likelihood for Liverpool with a curling effort that struck the right-hand publish.
The Netherlands worldwide got here shut once more with a shot that was saved whereas Dominik Szoboszlai noticed an opportunity smuggled clear by the house defence after he went around the goalkeeper.
Ekitike almost scores a stunner
Ekitike virtually broke the impasse a minute later, cleverly diverting Conor Bradley’s low cross in direction of the goal however seeing his effort effectively saved by dwelling goalkeeper Park Il-Gyu.
On the different finish, Reds goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was additionally trying assured.
Having dropped a clanger towards Milan, the Georgian, who continues to face in for Alisson whereas he addresses a private challenge in his native Brazil, produced an outstanding one-handed cease to maintain out Jun Amano’s header.
Ekitike and Ryan Gravenberch have been taken off on the break with Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones approaching however the modifications didn’t have a right away impact with Yokohama taking the lead after 55 minutes.
Shock aim for Japanese hosts
A intelligent ball inside Ibrahima Konate picked out Uenaka and he made no mistake with a low, left-footed end.
Japan worldwide Wataru Endo got here on for Virgil van Dijk to a hero’s reception and there was additional trigger for celebration for the big Liverpool help on the Nissan Stadium when Wirtz grabbed the equaliser together with his first aim for the membership.
No mistake from Wirtz as Liverpool flip the sport round
A sweeping counter assault led by Jones and Salah resulted within the ball falling kindly for the Germany worldwide within the field and he swept it into the left nook.
Slot made seven modifications after 64 minutes and two of the gamers launched mixed for the third aim of a contest performed out on an terrible pitch.
Frimpong whipped over a trademark cross from the left and Nyoni stretched out his proper leg to divert the ball dwelling.
It was one-way visitors now as Liverpool swarmed ahead and it got here as no shock once they scored once more. Andy Robertson picked out 16-year-old Ngumoha and he ran from close to the midway line earlier than slicing inside two defenders and firing a low shot into the underside nook.
