Match Report: Young Liverpool side lose 3-0 to RC Strasbourg in friendly at Anfield
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg at Anfield in their last pre-season game before the start of the premier league country.
Liverpool hosted RC Strasbourg in their first pre-season friendly at Anfield this campaign, as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds looked to embark on final preparations ahead of their Premier League opener against Fulham on Saturday . The Reds were beaten after a combination of defensive errors and clinical finishing allowed Adrien Thomasson to score a brace and Habib Diallo to score himself a first-half hat-trick was enough to secure a 3-0 for the French team.
Strasbourg got off to a perfect start just three minutes later, Isaac Mabaya failed to clear his lines, handing Adrien Thomasson a one-on-one chance with Harvey Davies, whom he slid onto him and into the bottom of the net. Liverpool 0-1 RC Strasbourg.
The French side threatened again as Thomasson’s cross sought to find target man Ajorque in the area, the cross fell to Luke Chambers who was unable to gain the desired clearance, allowing Marvin Seneya to strike , but Davies rallied.
Liverpool got their first chance of the game when Harvey Elliott slipped Fabio Carvalho down the right side of the Strasbourg box, but the Portugal international hit the side netting.
Chambers then failed to clear once more when Liverpool attempted to play from behind, the misplaced pass landed directly into the feet of Habib Diallo, who clipped his left foot and curled his shot in the beyond Davies and into the back of the net. Liverpool 0-2 RC Strasbourg.
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The visitors continued to stun Anfield after scoring three goals, James Milner and Chambers failed to stop Marvin Senaya on the near touchline allowing him to cut and find Thomasson whose first effort found the net, his second of the evening.
Liverpool almost had an impressive half-chance in the 28th minute as Joe Gomez forced his way through the back, moving past Elliott who picked out Mabaya’s overlapping run. He threw a dangerous cross but no red shirt could make contact.
Fabio Carvalho then re-energized the Anfield crowd, after Tyler Morton made an impressive tackle on Ajorque, the youngster fought his way through the blue shirts before drawing a foul near Strasbourg’s box.
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Strasbourg came close to scoring a fourth in the 36th minute when Thomasson’s cross from the left side inevitably found Ajorque’s header, but the header effort slipped past Davies’ far post.
Fabio Carvalho was a real bright spark in a rather disappointing first half for Liverpool as his trickery from the edge of the box earned Liverpool another free-kick. Young midfielder Stefan Bajcetic stepped up this time, and the effort required a high level save from Matz Sels to prevent him from going into the back of the net.
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More opportunities started to open up for reds as the time got closer to the interval, Chambers this time had a chance to strike from range but his effort went over the bar and into the Anfield Road stand. The long-range effort proved to be the last halftime chance for the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp changed his limited bench at half-time as Nathaniel Phillips replaced Isaac Mabaya. Strasbourg make their own change as Sanjin Prcic replaces Adrien Thomasson, who is substituted after scoring a brace.
Ibrahima Konaté seemed to have received a blow in the 55th minute, the physio entering the field to treat him. The Frenchman was ultimately unable to continue and was replaced by Sepp Van Den Berg. Liverpool also used to play to introduce Bobby Clark to Stefan Bajcetic.
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Liverpool looked to build an attack on the hour mark, moving it patiently from side to side until a slip from Marvin Senaya allowed Luke Chambers to fire, but he was saved by Matz Salts.
Two more changes then followed for the visitors, as Pierre-Gabriel and Doukoure replaced Le Marchand and Lienard in the 62nd minute.
A corner from Harvey Elliott went through the bodies in the Kop penalty area, eventually finding its way to Fabio Carvalho who managed to shoot, but his attempt sailed over the bar in the 63rd minute.
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Harvey Elliott started to try to cause a little more danger, passing to Gomez who went inside to Tyler Morton. The midfielder fired and caused Sels the most problems of the game, but Strasbourg eventually faced danger.
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Strasbourg looked to counter in the 66th minute when Pierre-Gabriel’s cross found Diallo in the box, his first effort passing just wide of Harvey Davies’ bottom left corner.
Melkamu Frauendorf was one-on-one with the Strasbourg goalkeeper and placed his shot beyond him and into the back of the net. However, the flag was raised. The ruled out goal was achieved by a massive but youthful roar from Anfield, providing a big moment for the younger generation present.
Frauendorf’s offside goal was ultimately his final involvement as he was substituted for compatriot Mateusz Musialowski. RC Strasbourg also brought in Diarra and Nuss for Senaya and Aholou.
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Fabio Carvalho then took space on the left side, directing a cross towards Harvey Elliott. The 19-year-old managed to score with a header but the shot was again saved by Matz Sels in goal.
Elliott continued to be a standout performer for the Reds, after cutting from his favorite right wing the crowd urged him to shoot from the edge of the box which he did, but his upbeat effort went in the Kop.
Liverpool came close in the 85th minute when Harvey Elliott’s stylist outside the starter pass found James Milner’s run behind, but the veterans’ shot was right in the throat from Matz Sels who saved a once again.
The visitors made their final changes of the match in the 89th minute when Kaba, Sahi Dion and Kanoute replaced Perrin, Ajorque and Diallo.
James Milner’s effort proved to be the last significant action of the game as the referee blasted full time.
Liverpool starting XI-
Davies, Mabaya, Konate, Gomez, Chambers, Milner, Bajcetic, Morton, Frauendorf, Elliott, Carvalho.
Replacements for Liverpool-
Mrozek, Phillips, Clark, Van den Berg, Musialowski.
RC Strasbourg starting XI-
Salts, Perrin, Aholou, Thomasson, Lienard, Bellegarde, Diallo, Nyamsi, Le Marchand, Ajorque, Sanaya
RC Strasbourg Replacements –
Risser-Birckel, Prcic, Sahi-Dion, Pierre-Gabriel, Diarra, Doukouré, Nuss, Kanoute, Kaba
Stadium – Anfield
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