Match reportLiverpool beaten by Monaco in pre-season friendly at Anfield
Andoni Iraola’s first match in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended in a 3-2 defeat by AS Monaco.
The Reds led 2-0 by the half-hour mark of Sunday’s pre-season friendly, thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, but the Ligue 1 visitors battled back and eventually claimed victory courtesy of an 88th-minute winner by Paris Brunner.
Alisson Becker, Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk made their first appearances of pre-season, while Victor Munoz made his non-competitive debut off the bench and Wataru Endo returned from injury.
Liverpool’s programme of summer friendlies concludes next weekend, with a double-header against Como 1907.
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Flashes of attacking promise from Iraola's team were shown in the opening stages, with Wirtz forcing Lukas Hradecky into a save before the Monaco goalkeeper was beaten by Isak.
The move that resulted in the goal was sharp, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai linking well on the edge of the penalty area. Gravenberch found Isak, who took a touch prior to burying a clinical, low finish.
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Lewis Koumas, an industrious presence on the right of the Reds’ attack, then volleyed Gakpo’s cross over but Liverpool did not have to wait much longer to double their lead.
Koumas and Gakpo’s roles were reversed as, this time, the Welshman delivered to the Dutchman at the back post. Gakpo’s downward header preceded a goalmouth scramble and Wirtz was on hand to toe-poke home from no more than a few yards out.
However, Monaco reduced their deficit just before the break, when Aleksandr Golovin was fouled by Van Dijk in the area and picked himself up to convert the penalty.
And, 10 minutes after the restart, the visitors drew level. Mika Biereth’s initial attempt was well saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, but the forward gathered the rebound and slotted home.
Iraola made six substitutions on the hour, with summer signing Munoz among those to be introduced.
But the main attacking threat was now being provided by Monaco, with Mamardashvili parrying away Mamadou Coulibaly’s powerful hit before Oumar Konate drilled a low attempt wide.
And the visitors would end up winning the game as Brunner glanced home a corner late on.
Team
Liverpool: Alisson (Mamardashvili, 46), Van Dijk (Chambers, 60), Wirtz (Nyoni, 60), Szoboszlai (Elliott, 75), Isak (Munoz, 60), Gakpo (Ngumoha, 60), Tsimikas (Kerkez, 60), Frimpong (Ramsay, 75), Gravenberch (McConnell, 60), Koumas (Chiesa, 75), Ndukwe (Endo, 46).
Unused subs: Davies, Morrison.
Attendance: 60,216