Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz were missing today in the squad as Liverpool feel to Italian gaints, AC Milan in preseason game that ended 4-2. Softfootball watched as the Reds feel to AC Milan at the Kai Tak stadium , Hong Kong.
Liverpool had fielded a strong starting XI that had goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, captain Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Dominic Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliot.
But eye balls began to roll when on the bench, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez were missing. There had been reports all through the week that both players were linked with other clubs and Softfootall reported that German side Bayern Munich submitted an offer for Luis Diaz.
The Premier League champions fell to 4 goals today in Hong Kong but Dominic Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo were on the scoreboard for the Reds.
Watch the goal highlights of the game between Liverpool and AC Milan:
The speculations around Diaz and Nunez’s absence was finally put to bed at the post match conference when Arne Slot talked about both players.
Slot’s response when quizzed about both players’ absence was posted by Fabrizio Romano on his verified X handle.
Slot said:
“Yes, Luis Diaz was left out today due to speculation on his future.”
Luis Diaz has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich in recent days and Liverpool had rejected a first offer by the German champions. Bayern Munich have returned to Liverpool with another bid but nothing has been heard yet.
For Nunez, he had been linked to Napoli but the links have now gone as Napoli have looked for another striker. Liverpool had reiterated that they will only listen to offer above £70m. Nunez had started brightly in this preseason as he scored a hattrick in Liverpool’s first preseason game.
Meanwhile Hugo Ekitike’s expected debut did not come to pass as the striker was not listed in the matchday squad. Florian Wirtz’s debut for the Reds would be the highlight of the day for the Liverpool fans in Hong Kong.
