CHICAGO, July 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Danish internationals Thomas Delaney and
Jacob Bruun Larsen scored second half goals as Borussia Dortmund handed
Liverpool a 3-2 defeat in the opening game of the Premier League giants pre-
season US tour on Friday.
In sweltering heat at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, Bundesliga
side Dortmund punished a rusty defensive display from the European champions,
who were missing several star players.
Brazilian internationals Roberto Firmino and Alisson were both absent for
the Reds following their Copa America campaign along with Mohamed Salah and
Sadio Mane, both missing due to the African Cup of Nations.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp opted for a a youthful starting line-up
against his former club before making 10 changes in the second half.
Dortmund took the lead after only three minutes when Paco Alcacer
capitalised on some hesitant defending from Liverpool defender Nathaniel
Clyne to rifle home from close range.
Liverpool soon began to carve out openings of their own however, and the
lively Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson always looked threatening.
Kent almost equalised in the 10th minute after a driving run by Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass to the back post was perfectly weighted but
Kent’s shot was blocked after a superb diving save from Dortmund goalkeeper
Martin Hitz.
Hitz needed to be alert soon afterwards, when a fine through ball by James
Milner released Wilson.
Wilson latched onto the pass and shot for goal, but Hitz had read the
danger, advancing off his line to save.
Liverpool finally drew level with a cleverly worked goal in the 35th
minute.
Again, Kent and Wilson were involved.
Fabinho’s pass into the area was brilliantly dummied by Kent into the path
of Wilson, who calmly stroked home the finish.
But despite the bright opening 45 minutes, Liverpool were soon trailing
again early in the second half as Dortmund once more seized on sloppy
defensive play to score two quick goals.
Delaney, one of nine Dortmund changes made at half-time, made it 2-1 in the
53rd minute after Liverpool’s defence were caught square.
Six minutes later Bruun Larsen fired Dortmund into a 3-1 lead after burying
Marius Wolf’s cutback into the bottom corner.
That goal was the cue for Klopp to make wholesale substitutions of his own,
removing all 10 outfield players on the one hour mark.
A Rhian Brewster penalty in the 75th minute after Ben Woodburn was brought
down cut Dortmund’s lead to a single goal.
But Liverpool were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages.
Liverpool face Spanish side Sevilla on Sunday at Boston’s Fenway Park
baseball stadium in the second game of their three-match US tour.