Milan fell to Liverpool 4-1 in their Dubai Super Cup friendly clash but found a consolation in their penalty shoot-out.
Coach Stefano Pioli fielded a moderately strong squad for the warm-up clash with the Reds, deploying first team regulars like Pierre Kalulu, Sandro Tonali and Ante Rebic alongside those keen for more minutes, like Malick Thiaw, Antonio Mirante and Yacine Adli.
It was a similar story for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, with stars like Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Roberto Firmino present.
Milan had the first chance thanks to teenager Marko Lazetic but Liverpool took the lead after just six minutes thanks to Salah.
The Rossoneri found an equaliser in the 28th minute following an Alexis Saelemaekers strike, but their smiles were short-lived as Thiago put the Reds ahead again 11 minutes later.
Liverpool found two more goals in the final 10 minutes of the game after Darwin Nunez netted a brace, capping off a good performance for the Premier League side.
The two teams then faced off in a penalty shoot-out. Konstantinos Tsimikas stepped up first but his effort was saved by Mirante, who followed this up with a save on Naby Keita’s effort.
Ismael Bennacer netted Milan’s first penalty and Bakayoko doubled their advantage afterward, but Adli struck wrong, giving Liverpool a chance.
Fabio Carvalho, Bobby Clark and Nunez all scored for Liverpool but the lack of mistakes from Youns El Hilali and Kalulu meant the Rossoneri edged out a 4-3 win in the shoot-out.
Why is there a shoot out if the score of the game was 4-1????
@Donato, Why? Because its the Dubai Super Cup, that’s why.
There is a penalty shoot out because it’s for practice. The game is essentially a training exercise. It’s not often players are able to practice a shoot out in a ‘competitive’ game.