Pre-Season Report: Liverpool 2-4 Leeds United | OneFootball

Pre-Season Friendly

Liverpool 2 (Chambers 7’, Wirtz 40’)

Leeds United 4 (Aaronson 60’, Calvert-Lewin 71’, 84’; Longstaff 73’)

Leeds first half XI: Cairns (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson (Bornauw 34’), Ampadu (C), Muharemović, Rodon, James, Nmecha, Stach, Tanaka, Justin.

Leeds second half XI: Cairns (GK), Justin (Lienou 83’), Muharemović, Bornauw, Rodon, Bogle (Gnonto 83’), Wilson, Ampadu, Longstaff, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson.

Venue: Solider Field | Attendance: 49,128 | Referee: Alexis Da Silva | Booked: Tanaka, Aaronson

Leeds United finished their pre-season tour of the United States of America in the picturesque setting of Soldier Field, under the Chicago skyline.

Two goals behind at the break, the Whites produced a superb second half showing to run out 4-2 victors in Illinois with all the goals coming from substitutes, building on the midweek win over Sunderland in New Jersey.

Liverpool’s first attack of the game saw them take the lead from a corner. The ball came through bodies and fell kindly into the path of Luke Chambers, who had the simple task of slotting home at close range.

Pushing forward and looking to hit back quickly, Jayden Bogle whipped in an excellent cross from the wing and found Lukas Nmecha who flicked a header on target, only to see it well saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Full of confidence after scoring the winner in our last friendly, Nmecha came close again. Daniel James burst down the left and cut the ball across to the striker, who struck just wide from the edge of the box.

Approaching the interval, Liverpool doubled their advantage. Jeremie Frimpong was found out wide on the right and volleyed across the box, picking out the onrushing Florian Wirtz to finish inside the six-yard box as the Whites went in 2-0 down at the break.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Leeds United

Daniel Farke made changes to his team which emerged for the second 45 minutes in Chicago. Harry Wilson, Sean Longstaff, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brenden Aaronson all entered the action in what would prove to be inspired substitutions.

While the new personnel looked to help find a way back into the game for Leeds, it was one of the starting XI who went closest early on. James Justin created room as he ran towards the Liverpool box and struck well, only to see Marmidishvili save and clear.

On the hour mark, the response did come and it was from home favourite Aaronson! Ethan Ampadu created the opening and found his teammate in space, before our number 11 slotted low into the back of the net.

The Whites had been on top for much of the second half at Soldier Field and created more chances, looking for an equaliser. Calvert-Lewin’s first minutes of pre-season were influencing the forward areas, causing problems for the Liverpool defence, and parity was restored with just under 20 minutes of normal time remaining through the striker!

A long throw hurled into the middle from skipper Ampadu was flicked on to the back post by compatriot Rodon, presenting the England international with a chance he made no mistake with!

And just moments later, the comeback was complete. Justin found the run of Aaronson in behind the Reds’ backline who cut the ball invitingly into the path of the onrushing Longstaff to bundle the ball beyond Mamardashvili and into the back of the net.

As the game entered the closing stages, two more changes were made as Willy Gnonto and Jayden Lienou entered proceedings, replacing Bogle and Justin respectively.

In what was an almost carbon copy of the goal that drew United level, Leeds added a fourth! Calvert-Lewin was again the scorer, powering a header home from a matter of yards, after Sebastiaan Bornauw had glanced Ampadu’s throw-in onwards!

The full-time whistle sounded shortly afterwards, rounding off a momentous second half showing to finish a memorable tour of the US. The Whites return to Elland Road next weekend as they host Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-4 Leeds United