Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front against AC Milan
(Picture: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool brought an end to their time in Dubai with a 4-1 win over AC Milan, in what was their final match before the return of competitive footall.
Arsenal had already wrapped up the Dubai Super Cup, but Liverpool ensured they finished the friendly tournament on a high as they deservedly beat the Serie A side with goals from Mohamed Salah and Thiago, and a late Darwin Nunez brace.
AC Milan won the penalty shootout that followed the match 4-3, with Kostas Tsimikas and Naby Keita seeing their spot-kicks saved as Liverpool lost their second shootout in the space of five days.
Jurgen Klopp and his side now turn their focus to Manchester City, who they face in the Carabao Cup on December 22, before a Boxing Day trip to play Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Salah put Jurgen Klopp’s side in front inside five minutes, after Joel Matip drove out of defence and combined nicely with the Egyptian, who made no mistake with only the goalkeeper to beat inside the box.
As was the case against Lyon, Liverpool were pegged back having taken an early lead. Alexis Saelemaekers fired Milan level with a superb finish, drifting past Andy Robertson who failed to cut out the initial pass.
It was finished matched by Thiago, who found the bottom corner himself as the ball fell to him with five minutes remaining of the first-half to restore Liverpool’s lead going into the break.
The second-half had less in the way of clear-cut chances and entertainment, the intensity not helped by a raft of changes. Nunez, Fabio Carvalho and Naby Keita were among those brought on by Klopp on the hour mark.
Youns El Hilali almost equalised with 20 minutes remaining, as he cut inside and curled a superb effort against the bar, while Nunez had a couple of shots saved at the other end as he looked to make an immediate impact.
The Uruguayan got his goal, Bobby Clark playing him clean through with a great pass and Nunez slotted past Antonio Mirante to put the result beyond doubt. He got his second in the closing stages, as Ben Doak squared to leave him a simple finish in the six-yard box.
Liverpool’s first two penalties of the shootout were saved, first Tsimikas and then Keita denied. Nunez was fortunate to not add his name to that list, his terrible penalty passed straight at Mirante who somehow found a way to let the ball slip through his hands.
It did not matter though, Pierre Kalulu stepping up and dispatching his spot-kick to give Milan the consolation prize.
