Liverpool ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Italian Serie A outfit AS Roma.
Both sides looked threatening in the first half when they were in possession of the ball and it seemed to be a fairly open game. But after making 10 changes during half time, the second-half performance from Liverpool left a lot to be desired. The Reds were beaten by a goal in each half from Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah, but managed to salvage a consolation goal through youngster Sheyi Ojo.
Manager Jurgen Klopp wasn’t pleased with the performance of his men, saying in his post-match press conference (via Liverpool’s official website): “We weren’t compact in the first half and had too big spaces between the positions, so nearly every offensive action of Roma was a chance.”
However, given the number of games Liverpool have had to play over the course of their tour, Klopp was more circumspect in his assessment of the team’s performance. The German said, “13 days in the USA and the hardest circumstances tonight at the end, after a lot of intensive sessions and then this wet heat.
“It was not too easy. We had a lot of games in the last few weeks and the opponent had no games in the last two weeks. We knew all that before the game, so it’s hard. But of course we have to do better in games like this.”
Despite the defeat, Liverpool fans were very happy with the performance of young academy attacker Sheyi Ojo. The 19-year-old netted the equaliser for the Reds in the first half with a cool finish.
Good ball in, good header by Lovren, nice finish by Ojo!
— ㅤ (@CoutinhoFlair) August 2, 2016
Poachers goal by Ojo. You could play him against any side in the world and he wouldn’t be fazed, cool customer.
— Dave O’Connell (@DaveOCKOP) August 2, 2016
Can we claim Ojo is better than Ibe and Sterling now then?
— Anfield Hub (@AnfieldHub) August 2, 2016
Cant be just me but why is it everytime i see Ojo he scores or assists? #LFC
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) August 2, 2016
Sheyi OJO! The 19 year-old with a headed goal to make it 1-1. He’s been impressive in the last two games. https://t.co/rUh0fUFc5y
— LFC| Live News (@LFC_NEW5) August 2, 2016
@LFC @sheyi_ojo This goal has just saved my marriage as I was punching my wife’s head in when we were 1-0 down
— Cal (@callumharvey21) August 2, 2016
@LFC @sheyi_ojo English Pele
— Ü (@ThoseScouseLads) August 2, 2016
Some fans managed to see the positives after the defeat.
Roma beat Liverpool by one goal in preseason before 2013-14 and Liverpool nearly won the league I’m just saying
— öh yoü beaüty (@natefc) August 2, 2016
Liverpool still the same old Liverpool, losing to teams like Roma and Chelsea.
— . (@Mikorza) August 2, 2016
Liverpool’s hopes of a top 4 finish ended (apparently) as a makeshift team loses 2-1 to Roma in an overblown training session in Missouri.
— Carl (@CarlMason79) August 2, 2016
Meanwhile, others commented on what they perceived to be a terrible performance by the match referee.
Milner’s now left back. I would let him bang my wife when he wants cuz he’s good at every positions. Amazing mentality and stamina. #LIVROM
— GaëL (@Gael__10) August 2, 2016
Totti might be 40, but the man looks 26, ready to pose in @GQStyle magazine cover. #LIVROM
— Moe Khan (@MoeKhan19) August 2, 2016
Imagine being so bad at refereeing that you can’t even ref a friendly game without ruining it #LIVROM
— Är (@arwalezszszsz) August 2, 2016
This ref’s a clown. If he’s anything to go by the standard of referee’s in MLS is shocking. #LFC #LIVROM
— Shy Robin (@ShyRobin1) August 2, 2016
Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno has often been criticised by the Reds’ supporters for his defensive blunders, with the Spaniard a target once again after Monday’s defeat.
To do list for Klopp when he gets back to the U.K.; sell Benteke, get a LB, get a LB, and get a LB. #LFC #LIVROM
— Moe Khan (@MoeKhan19) August 2, 2016
Still need a new left back and hopefully injury to Moreno will force us to get one. Should’ve got one to replace him anyway.
— LFC News (@LFCTransferNRS) August 2, 2016
LFC get 6 players in the box and Moreno over hits an easy cross under no pressure.
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) August 2, 2016
No, really, I can’t wait to stay up and watch another 40 minutes of Moreno, Stewart, Wisdom & Mignolet parping the ball at each other.
— Brenzie (@Brenzie) August 2, 2016