RB Salzburg 1-0 Liverpool: Player ratings as Reds sign off pre-season with defeat

Liverpool signed off their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, with Manchester United transfer target Benjamin Sesko grabbing the game’s only goal.

Playing their final match before Saturday’s Community Shield curtain-raiser against Manchester City, the Reds were frustrated by their hosts in the first half and then somehow failed to make the net bulge in the second, despite being presented with a host of chances.

Liverpool had the game’s first chance, with Darwin Nunez leaping high at the back post and nodding Fabio Carvalho’s cross straight into the grateful grasp of Salzburg goalkeeper Nico Mantl.

Not long after Nunez was again the target for a deep cross, but after taking it down well the Uruguayan failed to set his feet and the chance went begging.

Throughout the first half, the Nunez show continued. Next, the Reds’ new signing was slipped through and fired a right-footed shot at goal which clipped the bar on its way over.

Minutes after Fernando missed a sitter for Salzburg, Liverpool were made to paid for this lack of cutting edge when Sesko put their hosts 1-0 up. The highly-rated young forward finished off a fine team move with a composed finish into the bottom corner.

After a slightly flat first half, Liverpool improved significantly after the break, with Curtis Jones seeing a goalbound shot blocked after good work from Harvey Elliott down the right.

Soon after, Luis Diaz was denied when Mantl blocked the forward’s low shot with his legs following a mazy run. Fellow substitute Roberto Firmino also made the goalkeeper work with a bending effort from just inside the box.

Eight minutes from time Liverpool finally had the ball in the back of the net through Diaz – only for the offside flag to be raised on the far side.

Liverpool kept pressing for the equaliser and Trent Alexander-Arnold arrowed a sweetly-struck effort on goal, which again forced Mantl into a good save.

It was not to be in the end for Jurgen Klopp’s side though, with Salzburg holding on for an encouraging win.