Match report: Liverpool beaten by AC Milan in Hong Kong friendly

Liverpool lost 4-2 to AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday night. This match concluded the first leg of Liverpool's Asia tour.

AC Milan took the lead early in the first half through a goal by Rafael Leao in the 10th minute. Liverpool equalized before half-time thanks to an excellent strike from Dominik Szoboszlai, making the score 1-1 at the break. Manager Arne Slot fielded almost entirely different teams in each half, with Alisson Becker making his first pre-season appearance in the first-half lineup.

Before kick-off, respects were paid to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Liverpool players wore black armbands and jerseys etched with Jota's name, one side of the stadium displayed a 'DJ 20' mosaic, and Sir Kenny Dalglish laid a wreath. Early match action saw Alisson save from Christian Pulisic after a Liverpool turnover, and Szoboszlai and Leao both forced routine saves before Leao scored.

Milan secured the Standard Chartered Trophy decisively early in the second half. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Noah Okafor scored within a crucial seven-minute spell to put Milan 3-1 ahead. Liverpool pulled a goal back late in stoppage time through a Cody Gakpo header, offering brief hope. However, a defensive mix-up allowed Noah Okafor to immediately score again with the last kick of the game, restoring Milan's two-goal lead and sealing the 4-2 victory.

Following the match, Liverpool will travel to Japan on Sunday to continue their tour. Their next friendly is against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday.