Liverpool completed their first game in the International Champions Cup (ICC) friendly with a 1-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, at Bank of America Stadium, United States, Monday (23/7).
Down with a line up that is dominated by young players, both teams play open. In the first half, both teams share the ball possession 50 percent – 50 percent. However, Dortmund’s attack is more effective.
In the 3rd minute, Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius almost made a fatal mistake. Just then, he came out of his goalpost to sweep through Dortmund’s breakthrough pass. Unfortunately, the ball swept too low and can be taken by opponent players, Philipp. Luckily, his kick from a distance off the goal. The ball that rolled not too fast to the side of the goal. Karius just jogged after him. Karius himself attached to the image of poor clearance since the 2017/2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid. At that time, he gave two gifts to El Real.
At minute 24, Van Dijk netted a goal utilizing Robertson’s cross. He received the ball from a quick corner kick. There was no meaningful guard against the Dutch International player. He had no trouble to heading the ball to the net.
In the next round, both teams made the change for most of players. Among them, Goetze, Pulisic, in the camp of Dortmund, and Milner, Naby Keita, Sturridge in the stronghold of the Reds. In addition, Van Dijk pulled out.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah, who only sits on the bench, looks busy serving the signature request of the fan from the top stand. There’s no Alisson Becker on the bench. The changes make the game more attractive.
At 60 minutes, Milner do a short corner kick to Alberto Moreno. He then returned it to Milner with a breakthrough bait. The ball is then sent to the front of the goal and meet Solanke’s head. Unfortunately, he headed too to the left so the ball just flashed in front of goal.
Christian Pulisic then tried to find a gap by trying to pass two Liverpool players in the penalty box. He fell after crashing into one of them. The referee gave a penalty. Pulisic, who executed the penaly himself, aimed his kick into the middle. Meanwhile, Karius jumped to the right. Goal! 1-1.
Liverpool tried to find an additional goal. However, some opportunities are still failed in the hands of Hotz.
Dortmund then made a rapid counterattack, at minute 88, Schmelzer received a breakthrough bait and comb the right side of Liverpool. It then gives the pull feed to the middle. Pulisic freely accept it. Once controlled the ball, he made a horizontal kick from outside the penalty box without having stopped by two central defenders. The ball slid into the right-hand corner of the goal without being able to stop by Karius.
Pulisic once again become the scourge of Liverpool’s defense. In the 90th minute +3, the young American from United is weaving on the left side of Liverpool, tricking one defender with his dribbling trick, then kicked in the direction of the left-footed goal.
Karius was able to block it. However, a reflective ball struck by Brrun Larsen produced Dortmund’s third goal. 1-3 being the final score.
Composition of players:
Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Van Dijk, Matip, Roberson, Fabinho, Lallana, Camacho, Markovic, Jones, Origi
Dortmund: Hitz, Zagadou, Diallo, Sancho, Sahin, Toljan, Wolf, Dahoud, Philipp, Boadu, Dieckmann.
