Full-time: Liverpool 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
Goals:
Van Dijk 25′ (assist – Robertson)
Pulisic (pen) 66′
Pulisic 89′ (assist – Schmelzer)
Larsen 90+3′ (assist – Pulisic)
Borussia Dortmund left it late as the Germans scored twice in the closing stages to record a come from behind win at the Bank of America of stadium. Another Christian Pulisic inspired Dortmund display inflicted the first pre-season defeat for the Reds. Dortmund, who were uninspiring during most parts of the game, bagged a second win after beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to a Mario Gotze penalty.
Karius struggled as early as the fourth minute when he mishit a clearance of a misplaced Fabinho back-pass straight into Philipp. The Dortmund man went from 40 yards out, shooting towards an empty goal. Thankfully, he missed the target for what would have been a comical goal. It was Karius' error that let to the third BVB goal deep into stoppage time allowing Larsen to put the game beyond Liverpool.
Joel Matip was forced off with an thigh injury after just 18 minutes with the Cameroonian heading straight for the tunnel clutching his thigh. Matip was replaced by Joe Gomez and with Lovren unlikely to feature in the Premier League opener against West Ham, Klopp may have to call on either Gomez or Klavan. Seven minutes later, centre-back partner Van Dijk powered Robertson's cross from a corner into the back of the net.
Both teams headed for halftime with the Reds leading. A raft of changes was made by both teams at the start of the second half. Pulisic won and converted the penalty to bring an out of sorts Dortmund into the game. Referee Allen Chapman deciding Milner and Klavan had brought down the teenager. The game looked set to head to penalties until Pulisic perfectly controlled a Schmelzer cross before putting the ball past Karius at the left post. Minutes later, Pulisic- in search of a hat-trick- turned supplier as Karius's poor block on his attempt found Jacob Bruun Larsen waiting to pounce from six yards out.
Fun Fact
Christian Pulisic was the match's top performer, however, Sunday's award was sponsored by Heineken and the 19-year-old American was not eligible, due to the legal drinking age in the United States being 21.Instead, the award went to Virgil van Dijk, who in addition to scoring a first-half goal for Liverpool, is 27 years old and can legally drink alcohol in the U.S.
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