Liverpool's Pre-Season: Injury Apology and Stronger Side Performance
LFCTV issued an on-air apology on Sunday after accidentally broadcasting a gruesome injury suffered by Como defender Alberto Dossena during a pre-season friendly against Liverpool.
The Italian side, coached by Cesc Fabregas, faced the Reds twice in one day. A mixed Liverpool XI met the newly promoted Champions League outfit in a 70-minute behind-closed-doors game at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, before a more senior team later ran out at Anfield in front of supporters.
Horror moment at Kirkby
The first match finished 0-0 and offered little in the way of clear chances, but it took a disturbing turn when Dossena landed badly following an aerial challenge with James McConnell and Will Wright.
The Como centre-back fell awkwardly on his hand. Cameras zoomed in. The replay revealed a dislocated finger, prompting an immediate reaction from the commentary box.
Lead LFCTV commentator John Bradley said: "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."
Co-commentator Natashia Dowie added bluntly: "Woah that's not nice."
The close-up shot went out live, catching some viewers off guard. As the images played, the broadcast quickly moved to an apology.
Hunter said: "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."
Play was halted briefly while Dossena received treatment. Bandaged up, the 27-year-old chose to continue and saw out the final six minutes.
On the footballing side, the contest lacked cutting edge but did offer Liverpool some encouragement. Summer signing Victor Munoz caught the eye with his energy, while young midfielder Trey Nyoni produced another composed display in the middle of the pitch. Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas were among the senior names to get valuable minutes.
Stronger Liverpool side steps up
For the second fixture of the day, Andoni Iraola named a stronger XI and used the Anfield run-out to push preparations up a gear ahead of the new Premier League season.
New signing Jeremy Jacquet made his first appearance of pre-season, lining up alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence. Recent loan arrival Ronald Araujo started on the bench, joined by Lewis Koumas, Munoz, Nyoni, Wright and Mor Talla Ndiaye, all of whom had already featured in the earlier game at Kirkby.
Before the double-header with Como, Iraola had set out exactly what he wanted from these final warm-up matches.
"This will be a very good, and very important, test for us as we finalise our preparations for the new Premier League season," the Liverpool manager said.
He reflected on the previous weekend’s outing against Monaco, where the performance outshone the result.
"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 message from Iraola has been consistent: intensity, intent, energy. He wants a side that can maintain its press and its rhythm, not just flash in spells.
"I have spoken many times about the type of team I want to see on the pitch, about the intensity, the intent and the energy we are looking for, and while it is clear that there is still a lot of improvement to come, I believe that we are moving in the right direction and I expect that to continue in the coming days and weeks as the season gets under way.
"With Alexis Mac Allister having returned to the AXA Training Centre on Monday, we now have all of our players back after the World Cup, which is of course hugely beneficial.
"There is no doubt in my mind about the quality and the potential we have within our squad, and now it is up to us to show that on a consistent basis going forward."
Two games in one day, a horror injury, a public apology and another step towards full sharpness. Liverpool’s pre-season is no longer about experimentation; it’s about proving that potential can harden into something more ruthless once the real stuff starts.
