Liverpool falls to sharp Roma

Liverpool came undone as it lost 2-1 to Roma in its latest pre-season hit-out in Missouri.

Published : Aug 02, 2016 13:32 IST , Missouri

Daniel Sturridge led the line as Jurgen Klopp fielded a strong Liverpool team.
Daniel Sturridge led the line as Jurgen Klopp fielded a strong Liverpool team.
lightbox-info

Daniel Sturridge led the line as Jurgen Klopp fielded a strong Liverpool team.

Liverpool came undone as it fell 2-1 to Roma in its latest pre-season hit-out in Missouri. Mohamed Salah's 62nd-minute strike proved the winner on Monday, after Edin Dzeko had given the Italian Club a 1-0 lead just shy of the half-hour mark.

Liverpool's Sheyi Ojo had cancelled out the opener with his third goal in two pre-season games — on the stroke of half-time at Busch Stadium.

Jurgen Klopp named a strong line-up as he fielded a front three of Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and new signing Sadio Mane, with Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner also featuring for the Premier League side.

Roma also fielded a strong team as Radja Nainggolan started, with Dzeko and Salah up front alongside Stephan El Shaarawy. Kevin Strootman also featured in midfield as he upped his pre-season preparation following a nightmarish 12 months with injury.

The Serie A outfit looked the better side for the majority of the contest, with Nainggolan's hustle in midfield making life difficult for Liverpool to break through the middle of the park.

And Liverpool's defenders had to be on their toes early as Nathaniel Clyne did well to pressure Dzeko into missing an early opportunity.

But the Bosnia-Herzegovina international would not be denied twice and he got his goal after 29 minutes, taking down a chipped pass with his chest outside the box and shooting a low strike on the turn that Liverpool goalkeeper Alexander Manninger might have been disappointed to concede.

Liverpool responded well and took a deserved equaliser into half-time through Ojo, who stooped low to head home after Dejan Lovren did well to keep an over-hit corner alive at the far post.

Parity did not last long in the second half, however, as Salah scored the winner following a beautiful cross from Alessandro Florenzi, which found the head of Dzeko who forced a good save from substitute keeper Simon Mignolet only for the Egyptian to finish following Andre Wisdom's failure to clear the ball.

Liverpool almost scored a leveller in the last five minutes of the game from a dangerous set-piece through Danny Ings, but was denied by Roma keeper and Brazil number one Alisson.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment