HONG KONG - Rafael Leao scored one goal and set up another to lead AC Milan to a 4-2 win over Liverpool in a preseason friendly Saturday at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium.
Liverpool's starting line-up featured new signing Florian Wirtz alongside Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk, while Leao and Christian Pulisic led Milan's front line.
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Leao opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a surging run and finish past Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson following a swift Milan counterattack. The Portuguese forward later set up Ruben Loftus-Cheek to restore Milan's lead in the 52nd minute, after Liverpool had equalized through Szoboszlai's delicate lob over Milan keeper Mike Maignan midway through the first half.
Both sides made wholesale changes after halftime. Alexis Saelemaekers provided an assist for substitute Noah Okafor to make it 3-1 in the 60th minute. Cody Gakpo pulled one back for Liverpool in stoppage time before Okafor capitalized on a defensive error one minute later to seal Milan's win.
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Milan will next travel to Australia to face Perth Glory, while Liverpool continues its Asia tour with a match against Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos.
Kai Tak Stadium will stage another high-profile friendly on Thursday, with Tottenham Hotspur taking on Premier League rival Arsenal.
Tribute to Jota
Liverpool supporters and their former forward and manager Kenny Dalglish led tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before a pre-season friendly against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday.
Ahead of kickoff, supporters raised a mosaic depicting "DJ 20" and Dalglish laid a wreath in memory of former Liverpool forward Jota, who died along with his brother in a car accident in Spain this month.
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The Liverpool players wore "Diogo J 20" patches on their shirts and black armbands. AC Milan winger Rafael Leao paid tribute to his Portugal teammate by making a "2" and "0" sign with his fingers after scoring an early goal in the Italian team's 4-2 win.
Liverpool fan Zoe Leung and her family made a placard in Jota's memory.
"I think Jota's death is sad and I was really shocked when I watched the news. I made this with my family to show some respect to Jota," the 24-year-old Leung said.
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Liverpool players will wear a "Forever 20" emblem on their shirts during the next Premier League season. Supporters can have "Diogo J. 20" printed on shirts in club stores, with the profits going to LFC Foundation, the club's official charity.
Liverpool fans vastly outnumbered AC Milan supporters at the 50,000 capacity Kai Tak Stadium, many bringing placards, scarves, flags and banners to cheer on their team.
With Reuters input
