Liverpool cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over AC Milan in their International Champions Cup match at the Levi’s Stadium in California.

The fallen giants of world football came together for the first time since the 2007 Champions League final to engage in preparations ahead of yet another grueling European football season. Quite a lot has changed for the two sides since their  European encounters from the last decade with both sides experiencing a downward swing in their fortunes. However both Liverpool and AC Milan are looking forward to a new era with new managers promising to bring change to the clubs’ fortunes their fans so dearly desire.

AC Milan came into the encounter at the back of a penalty shoot-out win over Bayern Munich while the Merseysiders had lost their previous game to English rivals Chelsea. Fans in excess of 30,000 were in attendance for Liverpool’s second encounter in the United States as the Reds comfortably dispatched Vincenzo Montella’s side to emerge 2-0 victors on the night.

The game saw Georginio Wijnaldum make his Liverpool debut after the midfielder completed a £25 million move last week from Championship outfit Newcastle United. It also saw England stars Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner have their first run-ins for the club after their dismal showing with England at the Euros in France.

The first half saw Liverpool dominate play and attack through pockets of space offered by the Milan back-line. However, their efforts in build-up lacked the subsequent finishing as the sides went into half-time on level terms. The most telling opportunity of the half fell to Sadio Mane who was put through on goal, only for the Senegalese forward to blast the ball straight at Milan goalkeeper Gabriel.

Divock Origi opened the scoring for the Reds. The striker showed good skill by cutting inside Gabriel Paletta before curling the ball past Gabriel in goal. The Belgian’s arrival in the second half gave the Reds more impetus and sting in attack as they looked to finish off their Italian opponents. Origi did net a second goal only for the effort to be called for off-side.

The Reds scored their second through Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian connected with a deflected cross into the box from Sheyi Ojo. The goal, though, was made by the 19-year-old youngster who showed brilliant pace and skill with his feet, before crossing it into the 6-yard box. It was however Firmino’s classy celebration that attracted all the attention on social media.

Liverpool took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half as they emerged runaway victors against the Rossoneri. It’ll be a performance Klopp will be happy about with only a matter of weeks to go before the Reds prepare for yet another Premier League season.

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