LFCTV Apologizes for Gruesome Injury During Liverpool–Como Friendly
What was supposed to be a low-key workout for Liverpool turned uncomfortable viewing when LFCTV accidentally lingered on a gruesome injury to a Como defender.
Cesc Fabregas’ Serie A side were at Anfield for a pre-season friendly, but the drama started earlier in the day at the Reds’ Kirkby Training Centre. Behind closed doors, the clubs had already arranged a shorter 70-minute game, designed to top up minutes for the likes of Federico Chiesa, Alexis Mac Allister and summer arrival Victor Munoz.
That tune-up match was meandering along without incident when it suddenly lurched into something far more wince-inducing.
Camera lingers on horror moment
Midway through the contest, Como centre-back Alberto Dossena went up for an aerial challenge with James McConnell and Will Wright. He came down awkwardly, his hand taking the force of the fall.
The impact was bad. The pictures made it worse.
As Dossena stayed down, a pitchside camera cut in tight, revealing a horribly dislocated finger. Viewers on LFCTV were given a full, stomach-turning close-up before the production team could pull away.
Lead commentator John Bradley reacted instantly.
"That's a nasty landing. We might need a little stoppage here to get the medical team on. Well yes there you go, he's dislocated his finger," he said as the replay rolled.
Co-commentator Natashia Dowie could only add: "Woah that's not nice," before Bradley moved to acknowledge the uncomfortable timing for those watching at home.
"Apologies if you are just trying to have your lunch or if you're in, who knows, San Diego having a very early breakfast. Sometimes you just see things that make you squirm."
The broadcast swiftly cut back to a wider angle, but the damage to appetites was already done, prompting an on-air apology from LFCTV for the graphic nature of the images.
Dossena plays on as youngsters catch the eye
Remarkably, after treatment and a heavy bandage, the 27-year-old Dossena was able to continue, seeing out the remaining six minutes of the game.
The match itself finished goalless, a functional exercise rather than a spectacle, short on clear-cut chances. Yet there were flickers of encouragement for Liverpool. Munoz, lively and direct, made the most of his minutes, while young midfielder Trey Nyoni again showed why he is being pushed closer to the senior set-up.
Their energy injected some life into what was otherwise a muted contest, one that served its purpose without offering many headlines beyond Dossena’s injury.
Stronger XI, instant impact at Anfield
The more recognisable names came later.
For the main fixture against Como at Anfield, Andoni Iraola rolled out a stronger starting XI, using the evening to sharpen his core group as the Premier League opener looms. New signing Jeremy Jacquet was handed his first appearance of pre-season, lining up alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence.
It did not take long for Liverpool’s quality to tell. Cody Gakpo struck first, putting the Reds in front, and 21 minutes later Jacquet marked his debut with a goal of his own, an ideal way to introduce himself to the Anfield crowd.
On the bench, recent loan arrival Ronald Araujo waited for his turn, joined by Lewis Koumas, Munoz, Nyoni, Wright and Mor Talla Ndiaye – all of whom had already put in a shift in the earlier Kirkby run-out. It underlined the physical demands of Iraola’s pre-season and the club’s determination to expose its younger players to senior-level intensity.
Iraola demands more as season nears
Before the double-header against Como, Iraola had made it clear what he wanted from these final friendlies.
"This will be a very good, and very important, test for us as we finalise our preparations for the new Premier League season," he said, reflecting too on the previous outing against Monaco.
"Despite the result, last weekend's game against Monaco brought plenty of positives and plenty of learnings for myself and my staff. The first half, and the first 30 minutes in particular, was very pleasing. It was good to see Alexander Isak getting on the scoresheet and looking sharp, and I saw a lot of good things both with and without the ball.
"The problem we had, as we had against Leeds in Chicago, was that we were not able to sustain our levels and that is something that can only happen with time, and with a lot of hard work on the training ground."
The pattern is clear. Liverpool are building fitness, layering detail, and testing their depth. The football will sharpen. The question now is whether the intensity Iraola demands can be sustained when the real thing starts and there are no more gentle friendlies, no more second chances, and certainly no time to look away.
