Liverpool play out goalless draw with Como at AXA Training Centre
Liverpool’s First Pre-Season Encounter
Liverpool played out a goalless draw against Como 1907 in their first pre-season match, held behind closed doors at the AXA Training Centre. The encounter consisted of two 35-minute halves. This fixture served as a precursor to a later meeting between the two sides at Anfield.
The match saw limited genuine scoring opportunities, with neither team able to break the deadlock in Kirkby. Andoni Iraola managed Liverpool, deploying a 4-2-3-1 formation. His starting lineup included G. Mamardashvili in goal; C. Ramsay, W. Endo, L. Chambers, and K. Tsimikas in defence; T. Nyoni and A. Mac Allister as defensive midfielders; V. Muñoz, J. McConnell, and H. Elliott in attacking midfield roles; and F. Chiesa as the striker.
Alexis Mac Allister made his first pre-season appearance for Liverpool, having returned to club duties earlier in the week. He played for approximately an hour before being substituted. Wataru Endo played the entire match at centre-back.
Key Moments and Player Performances
Early in the match, Victor Muñoz created a half-chance just three minutes in, navigating around Ivan Smolcic on the left side of the box before delivering a cross. Trey Nyoni met the cross but glanced it wide. Assane Diao of Como was a frequent attacking outlet on the left wing, with Liverpool defenders needing to contain his runs. Diao had a notable opportunity in the opening period after a passing sequence freed Smolcic, who then provided a square pass inside the Liverpool area, but Diao miscued his finish. Adrian Lahdo also had a shot from 20 yards that went wide, keeping the score level at the interval.
In the second half, Muñoz delivered a ball towards the near post, which Federico Chiesa headed towards goal, but the attempt was saved. Muñoz later made a run from his own half, beating two opponents before being stopped in the box. Trey Nyoni, who played the full 70 minutes, cleared the crossbar with a shot after substitute Will Wright had advanced the ball into Como territory. Liverpool’s best chance arrived just before the hour mark when Lewis Koumas dispossessed Riccardo Cassano near his area and took a shot, though his left-footed effort drifted wide.
Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas, also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Their starting eleven featured N. Törnqvist in goal; Álex Valle, M. Kempf, A. Dossena, and I. Smolčić in defence; M. Perrone and M. Caqueret in defensive midfield; A. Diao, A. Lahdo, and N. Kühn in attacking midfield; and captain Álvaro Morata as the striker.
Substitutions and Managerial Observations
Liverpool made several substitutions during the match. K. Morrison, L. Koumas, and W. Wright were introduced in the 56th minute, replacing Víctor Muñoz, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa respectively. T. Ndiaye came on for Alexis Mac Allister in the 69th minute. Later, in the 77th minute, J. Sonni-Lambie and L. Pitt entered the game, replacing C. Ramsay and J. McConnell. Other substitutes for Liverpool included H. Davies.
Manager Andoni Iraola and his coaching staff were present on the touchline. Some senior players, including Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai, were observed watching the match from a balcony. Victor Muñoz was noted for his pace and direct play, demonstrating an ability to deliver crosses with both feet. Trey Nyoni was also highlighted for his vocal command in the second half, positional discipline, and effective breaking up of play, alongside his forward passing. Ivan Smolcic made a crucial block in the final minute to prevent Will Wright from scoring from 12 yards out, just before the referee concluded the match.
Source: bbc.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
