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KAI TAK SPORTS PARK, HONG KONG // Liverpool lost 4-2 to AC Milan in its third pre-season friendly of the summer with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring the Reds' only goal in the first half.
Portugal star Rafael Leao fired AC Milan in front early in the game when he smashed a fierce shot into the roof of Alisson Becker's goal. But Szoboszlai curled a shot into the top corner 16 minutes later to level the scores.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek put his side in front again shortly after the second half kicked off, and by the hour mark, Noah Okafor had made it 3-1 to the Serie A outfit. Cody Gakpo and then Okafor both scored in stoppage time. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Florian Wirtz excels and Dominik Szoboszlai truth
In what was his first (public) game for Liverpool, Florian Wirtz was always going to be worth watching out for. Arriving for a club-record fee from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, the German is a massive talent.
He showed a good few glimpses with the ball at his feet, at one point flicking the ball over a defender's head as if he was messing around on the beach. He loves a short give-and-go and will build further on his relationship with Mohamed Salah in the future.
Elsewhere, further back as a result of Wirtz and Harvey Elliott playing almost as a front two, Dominik Szoboszlai showed why he won't be struggling for minutes despite the German coming in. The Hungary captain was instrumental.
As well as scoring a stunning goal, Szoboszlai was everywhere. Arne Slot will not want to lose his running from the team, so even if he doesn't play as often as a No.10, there will be a place for him somewhere most weeks.
Reshuffled defense
With Joe Gomez having flown back to the UK because of injury, Slot's side suddenly looks very light at the back. That saw Ryan Gravenberch play center-back to begin with and Luca Stephenson operate at full-back (though Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong were held back for the second period).
Links with Marc Guehi are unlikely to go anywhere, though it remains to be seen exactly how much Crystal Palace will demand for its captain. Someone, surely, will have to come in, whether it is the England ace or another name entirely.
Gravenberch and Kostas Tsimikas did OK considering they don't normally play in the middle of the defense. Going through an important period of next season with one of them in the starting XI there every week, however, would be a major risk.
Young talents impress
Rio Ngumoha wasn't born for more than three years after Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 by beating AC Milan in Istanbul. And yet, here he was confidently taking experienced players on as if he were in training.
Trey Nyoni, coming on for Tyler Morton midway through the first half, looked good at times too. But while he kept things simple in the main, Ngumoha was trying all sorts, sending the clear message that he is ready for more chances like this.
His former club, Chelsea, was furious to have lost Ngumoha to Liverpool. With every appearance under Slot, it becomes more and more obvious why. He's not 17 until next month, but he can make much more senior opponents look silly.
Transfer hint?
Neither Luis Diaz nor Darwin Nunez was involved in the game amid transfer interest in the pair from elsewhere. Harvey Elliott, though, did start, despite admitting recently that he could still leave in search of more minutes.
Diaz and Nunez have trained as normal this week and were in attendance. Bayern Munich has held talks for the Colombian, while clubs in Saudi Arabia hold an interest in the Uruguayan.
Elliott, who was the Player of the Tournament at the U21 European Championship a few weeks ago, looked sharp enough here. There remains a major question mark over whether he will see a real route to action, however, when the proper soccer begins next month.
How much of a hint was this that moves for Diaz and Nunez are nearing? It won't be long before we find out. Along with Federico Chiesa, their futures might end up lying elsewhere.
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