Liverpool fall 2-1 to Sevilla in Fenway friendly
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was furious at
Joris Gagnon's outrageous kick at an on-rushing Larouci in the 76th
minute. Gnagnon was shown a straight red card after sweeping one of the
Frenchman's legs out from underneath him, toppling him to the pitch
where his head bounced hard on the ground.
Even with the La Liga outfit reduced to 10
men, however, Liverpool were unable find a way ahead, and Pozo sealed it
in the 90th minute as he smoothly collected a pass from Munir El
Haddadi, rounded Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet and knocked the winner
into an unguarded net.
Sevilla had enjoyed by far the majority of scoring
chances on a sweltering evening at Fenway Park -- home of the World
Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Both Liverpool and the Red Sox are owned
by groups led by John W. Henry.
Players were granted water breaks in the hot,
humid conditions, and even the pitch created on the baseball diamond
received extra water during the match.
The pro-Liverpool crowd weren't treated to many of
the club's stars as 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.
As in a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Friday in Indiana, there was some shaky defending from Liverpool.
Nolito's powerful shot in the 37th
minute past Liverpool starting goalkeeper Andy Lonergan -- who was at
Middlesbrough last season -- was Sevilla's reward after a half-hour of
pressure.
It needed a sprawling save from Lonergan in
the 13th minute to deny Luuk de Jong after Liverpool lost possession in
their own territory and de Jong was just wide with a header in the 23rd.
Liverpool's equalizer came off a scrappy set
piece as Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner was kept alive by Nat Phillips,
the ball falling to an unmarked Divock Origi who swept in from close
range in the 44th.
Both teams made wholesale changes at halftime,
but even a match that was just one more step in both team's pre-season
preparations there was nothing laid back about Sevilla.
A foul was called on Ever Banega for a hard
tackle in the 12th minute and when he slammed the ball to the ground in
protest he was shown a yellow card.
Liverpool midfielder Harry Wilson took a smack
to the face just before halftime -- an infraction that paled in
comparison to that of Gnagnon -- who was arguing with the referee as
Larouci received treatment.
Liverpool fall 2-1 to Sevilla in Fenway friendly
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