Liverpool 3-1 Darmstadt – Diaz shines as Reds end pre-season with victory
Liverpool finished pre-season with a win, scoring three goals against Darmstadt when Luis Diaz shone and Mohamed Salah found his way back into the net and provided an assist.
Liverpool 3-1 Darmstadt
Goals
Salah 5′ (Assist: Van Dijk)
Iota 8′ (Submission: Salah)
Honsak 10′
Diaz 59′ (model: Szoboszlai)
News that CurtisJones was to be benched with a hit came just hours after another offer for Romeo Lavia was rejected, meaning Alexis Mac Allister started as No. 6.
Still, the Reds picked up where they left off and it took Salah just five minutes to do so.
The Egyptian was careful to throw the ball after Virgil van Dijk tried to deflect Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner into the goal. #11 won’t get as many easy finishes.
And to keep the theme of his summer alive, Salah netted his seventh assist after brilliantly pressing Darmstadt on the edge of the box and setting up Diogo Jota for a clean strike to make it 2-0. 
Liverpool XI (first 60 minutes): Alisson; Alexandre-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; MacAllister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Salah, Jota, Diaz
But while the Reds may look strong in attack, the same concerns persisted in defence, such as a single ball past top left Mathias Honsak in a one-on-one with Alisson, who was duly punished.
It was his first goal in six preseason games.
It all happened in an entertaining ten minutes of the first half. Both teams created more chances in the first 45 minutes, the Reds more often, but without reward.
A word should be dedicated to Mac Allister, who looked impressive in all facets of the game, buying himself time and space while making it easy. An important season for the number 10.
First Half: Liverpool 2-1 Darmstadt
Jürgen Klopp made no changes immediately after the break for the first time this summer, bringing his side closer to the demands they will make of Chelsea in six days’ time.
The coach may not have been very happy with the immediate start of the second half, with the Germans laying bare the possible goals against Liverpool, but he enjoyed Diaz’s magical finish from Szoboszlai’s corner to make it 3-1.
In the hour the changes came, the crowd were immediately encouraged by the introduction of Darwin Nunez and company, and Ben Doak didn’t hurt his chances of becoming a first team regular.
Liverpool XI (last 30 minutes): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Quansah 74′), Matip, Gomez, Tsimikas; Mac Allister (Jones 74′), Elliott, Gakpo (McConnell 74′); Doak, Nunez, Diaz (Scanlon 74′)
Unused Subs: Kelleher, Adrian, Clark
This wraps up pre-season as the Reds draw with a win, now all eyes are on the journey to Chelsea and hopefully at least one new signing!
Next game: Chelsea (A) – Sunday 13 August, 4.30pm (BST)
Read Next..Â
Report: Liverpool receives Kylian Mbappe transfer boost as he outside PSG sqaud amid Mo Salah Saudi interest and Andre Trindade latest
According to a report, Kylian Mbappe is a ‘big’ Liverpool fan and would rather join them for a sensational season than his many other admirers around the world.
Meanwhile, the Reds have also reportedly held talks with representatives of Aston Villa winger Jaden Philogene, 21.
Send your opinions to @LivEchoLFC and don’t forget to subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red podcast – featuring all your favorite ECHO regulars including Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Tom Cavilla and Keifer MacDonald.
Liverpool’s ECHO have launched their own WhatsApp community to bring you the latest LFC transfer news and top stories straight to your phone. By joining our WhatsApp community, you will get the latest news and top stories straight to your phone. All you have to do to join is click this link, select “Join the community” and you are a member.
KEIFER MACDONALD
Liverpool provided a double boost in midfield as the absence of a defender was confirmed through injury
Liverpool have received a double injury surge with midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara returning to full training.
The pair were expected to take the final step in their rehabilitation from long-term injury once most of the squad returned from their pre-season tour in Singapore last week.
And both teenager Bajcetic and Thiago were put through their paces over the weekend in Kirkby as the Reds continued their preparations for the new season.
Neither are expected to compete for minutes in Liverpool’s final warm-up match against Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt at Preston North End’s Deepdale Stadium on Monday night. But their return to full training is a major boost for Jurgen Klopp as his midfield options have been limited by the recent departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Bajcetic has been out since March as his breakthrough season was cut short by an adductor injury, while Thiago hasn’t played since February with a hip problem that required surgery in April.
Conor Bradley, who started in the first two friendlies of the pre-season, also missed the Far East tour through injury. Although he will miss the game in Darmstadt, his problem is not considered serious.
Kylian Mbappe trains outside Paris Saint-German senior squad
The 24-year-old was not included in Paris Saint-Germain’s squad for the Japan tour earlier this summer as club officials are adamant the striker has verbally agreed to a deal to join Real Madrid if his contract expires next summer.
Ian Rush: Salah is dying to beat Liverpool
Liverpool legend Ian Rush has revealed he regularly chats with Mohamed Salah about his glorious goalscoring history – but he warned the Egyptian he would only be happy to see his all-time record quashed if he did. he was successful at Anfield MI
Rush, who played twice for the Reds in the 1980s – one season each at Italian giants Juventus – currently tops Liverpool’s goalscoring charts with an astonishing 346 goals in 660 games. This is a time when the Reds have won two European Cups and five Premier League titles.
The 61-year-old is second to legendary Roger Hunt, who scored 285 goals in 11 glorious years with the club. His time on Merseyside was spent under the tutelage of Bill Shankly, who took Liverpool from Second Division minnows to Premier Division and FA Cup winners.
Given the incredible numbers recorded in Anfield’s annals, the prospect of someone ever getting closer to Rush’s tally seemed, and perhaps still is, unimaginable. However, Salah has put in a brave performance in his six years at Anfield so far.
The Egyptian, who re-signed with the Reds last summer on a lucrative three-year deal, is aiming to be Anfield’s top scorer one day, according to Rush.
“I talk to Mo Salah a lot,” Rush told Bangladeshi publication Prothom Alo. “Mo keeps saying why did you score so many goals? He thinks he can beat my record.
“He should be there for a few more years if he wants to break that record. Now he’s playing a bit bigger role. I don’t think he’s scored that many goals, but I think he’s scored that many.” many assists this year. “He’s become more of a team player. A few years ago he could have been a bit selfish. But in the last couple of years he’s become more of a team player. And I think he’s giving the same amount of assists.” while scoring goals.
Arsenal win the Community Shield
Despite taking the lead in the 99th minute of the match, Manchester City lost the 2023 Community Shield.
Pep Guardiola’s side looked set to claim their first title of the season, but that only happened after Leandro Trossard’s deflected shot went wrong.
The absence of Moises Caicedo explained
Moises Caicedo has missed Brighton & Hove Albion’s pre-season game against Rayo Vallecano with a minor hamstring injury, according to club CEO Paul Barber.
The Seagulls are currently struggling to keep the talented 21-year-old midfielder, who was the subject of two failed offers from Chelsea this summer. Caicedo has also been tentatively linked with a move to Anfield in recent months after making a tremendous breakthrough last time out at the Amex.
On Sunday afternoon, however, Caicedo was conspicuously absent from Brighton’s side, who faced La Liga side Rayo Vallecano at the Amex. It was initially claimed by some sources that Caicedo asked not to be at the game as he planned to move to Stamford Bridge.
However, Barber was quick to deny those speculations, even admitting that the Ecuadorian’s absence was solely down to a hamstring issue he was struggling with ahead of Saturday’s Premier League home game against Luton. Town.
“Moises suffered a minor hamstring injury towards the end of practice and had to retire as a result,” Barber said. “With the Premier League season just a week away, there’s no point in risking it today.”
“We are looking forward to Moises starting the season with us, he is a Brighton player on a long-term contract.” He is probably one of the most exciting young midfielders in the world right now and we are delighted to have him with us.”
