RB Salzburg vs. Liverpool result: Reds suffer 1-0 preseason defeat in Austria on Benjamin Sesko goal

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Feargal Brennan
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Benjamin Sesko

Liverpool's final match before their crunch Community Shield showdown against Manchester City ended in a 1-0 preseason defeat at RB Salzburg.

The Reds hammered RB Leipzig 5-0 last week, but they were unable to breakthrough a stubborn home resistance in the second half.

After gilt-edged misses from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, it was Benjamin Sesko who ruthlessly put the home side in front, after getting the better of Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate on the break.

Jurgen Klopp opted for a raft of changes in the second 45 minutes, but Salzburg goalkeeper Nico Mantl and his defence stood up to the challenge, to hand the Premier League giants a frustrating night at the Red Bull Arena.

Van Dijk-less defence exposed by Salzburg attack

Despite RB Salzburg offering a sporadic attacking threat, the speed and clever movement of Noah Okafor, and match winner Sesko, caused problems for Konate and Joe Gomez.

Klopp started his two younger centre-backs in Austria and they endured a mixed first 45 minutes at the Red Bull Arena.

Gomez's poor header was almost punished by Sesko, and his positioning — plus Konate's recovery pace — were exposed on the Slovenian's goal.

Without van Dijk alongside one of them — the Dutchman entered in the 60th minute — neither player took responsibility against a tricky attack, and the duo are expected to start on the bench against City at the King Power Stadium, site of the Community Shield match against Man City.

Nunez substitution hints at Klopp's plan 

Nunez was never going to match his incredible four-goal haul from the Leipzig outing, but his 45-minute cameo shows there is still work to be done, as he settles into Klopp's Liverpool.

Klopp has dismissed criticism of the Uruguayan in preseason with the majority of his performances suggesting the former Benfica striker will be a hit at Anfield.

Despite hitting the woodwork, and spearheading the Liverpool attack, Klopp chose to withdraw him at half-time, as he continues to acclimatise to the squad.

Darwin Nunez hit pre-season form for Liverpool

As Klopp has previously shown with star names including Fabinho and Thiago, he will not rush new signings into the starting XI before they meet his high standards of conditioning and performance, and Nunez has some way to go to nail down a starting spot.

Late changes indicate Community Shield options

Klopp has gradually edged towards naming stronger starting XI's, as Liverpool's preseason campaign has gathered pace, with a familiar look to the team that closes out the 90 minutes.

Eight changes on the hour mark indicates his thinking ahead of their showdown with Pep Guardiola's City on July 30 with the team at full-time likely to be very similar to the one which starts against the Premier League champions.

Mohamed Salah looks on during Liverpool's win over Villarreal
Getty Images

Alisson's injury means Adrian will continue in goal, with Robert Firmino leading the attack, alongside Luis Diaz and Mo Salah, while Nunez remains on the bench.

RB Salzburg vs. Liverpool final score

  1H 2H Final
RB Salzburg 1 0 1
Liverpool 0 0 0

Goals:

SAL — Benjamin Sesko (Noah Okafor) — 32nd min.

RB Salzburg vs. Liverpool updates & highlights

Full-time: RB Salzburg 1, Liverpool 0

The home side were forced to dig deep in the final stages with goalkeeper Nico Mantl the hero with a string of vital late stops to hand Liverpool a 1-0 defeat in Austria.

Benjamin Sesko's first-half goal is the difference between the two sides as Liverpool look forward to Manchester City in the Community Shield this weekend.

90+2 min.: Last chance saloon as Robertson's close range shot is blocked and cleared by Salzburg.....again.

90th min.: Fabinho is booked for a clash with Junior Adamu as we head into three minutes of added time.

87th min.: More pinball inside the RB Salzburg as they clear their lines once again.

84th min.: MANTL..........AGAIN

Liverpool spring Trent Alexander- Arnold from a short corner, but Mantl is sharply across to deny the England star with a brilliant stop!!

Firmino flicks on the resulting corner, but the home side scramble behind for another corner.

81st min.: Diaz has the ball in the net, but the flag is immediately up for offside against the Colombian.

80th min.: Liverpool are still banging on the door. Robertson's cross-shot forces Mantl to tip over and Fabinho's deflected strike gathered in.

74th min.: IT'S ALL LIVERPOOL!!!!

The 'second half Reds' look determined to try and find a late equaliser in this one.

Salah bursts past Pavlovic, but Mantl is there again to make a block. Firmino wriggles into space in the box and tests the hosts keeper.

67th min.: Roko Simic is booked for persistent fouling, but still no goal for Liverpool, as we head towards the final 20 minutes.

63rd min.: Liverpool's changes are starting to turn the screw for the visitors. Van Dijk heads a corner over and Thiago's through ball gives Luis Diaz a chance, but Mantl gets across and makes a key stop.

60th min.: Eight changes on the hour from Klopp with Mo Salah, Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk amongst the new faces.

56th min.: Liverpool are carrying a threat since the restart as Strahinja Pavlović makes a brave block from Curtis Jones, 

49th min.: Substitute Morton is straight into the action for Liverpool as his long range drive flies wide.

46th min.: We are back underway in Salzburg. Three changes for Klopp, as Andy Robertson, Tyler Morton and Roberto Firmino come on and Nunez, Milner and Keita go off, as RB Leipzig change their entire starting XI, expect for Mantl.

Half-time: RB Salzburg 1, Liverpool 0

RB Salzburg head into the break 1-0 in front thanks to Sesko's brilliant finish. Both sides have missed chances, but Liverpool's lack of cutting edge will be a real frustration for Klopp.

38th min.: That goal has really opened the game up. Luka Sucic forces a smart reaction stop from Adrian and Bernardo slams a volley JUST over the top!!

Liverpool then look to react as Mabaya's bouncing effort is held by Mantl and Elliott curls over as Nunez dragged the hosts defence out of position.

32nd min.: RB SALZBURG TAKE THE LEAD!!!!

No mistake this time....... as the hosts go 1-0 up!!

Sesko shows brilliant control to link up with Noah Okafor — and race clear of Ibrahima Konate — before powering past Adrian!!

Superb finish from the Slovenian international.

28th min.: HUGE CHANCES AT BOTH ENDS.........HOW IS IT STILL 0-0????

The game has exploded into life at both ends..........but still no breakthrough!!!

Mabaya's clever through ball releases Nunez and the Uruguayan smashes against the bar! RB Salzburg break and Sesko breezes past Joe Gomez — Adrian saves — but Fernando somehow screws the rebound wide!!!

23rd min.: Liverpool look to try and come again as Isaac Mabaya strides on and blazes off target before Naby Keita's weak effort trickles past the post.

18th min.: Scattered fouls against both sides in the last few minutes with Milner and Fernando both receiving treatment.

12th min.: Half chance for the on-fire Darwin Nunez from James Milner's lofted ball, but his header is held by Nico Mantl, as Benjamin Sesko lashes an effort over the top at the other end.

10th min.: A bright opening from Klopp's young starting XI with Carvalho and Harvey Elliott seeing plenty of the ball so far.

5th min.: An unusual sight for a friendly as RB Salzburg defender Ignace Van Der Brempt is booked after two late challenges on Fabio Carvalho.

Kickoff: We are off in Salzburg!

15 minutes to KO: Jurgen Klopp has thrown down the gauntlet to his side by claiming the 2022/23 season starts tonight

"We said after the RB Leipzig game, the real work starts now. We have a game at the weekend, we can't forget it, but we can't ignore it.

"The boys have to fight through it tonight. We have to mix the team and share game time because of Saturday's game.

"We start with a young team but so do Salzburg. They're not in pre-season anymore, it's the start of the season for them. 

"Their football philosophy is not too far away from ours, they play with a press and a counter press."

30 minutes to KO: All smiles from Klopp ahead of kickoff in Austria.

1 hour to KO: Three changes for the hosts

With the 2022/23 Austrian Bundesliga season already underway, Matthias Jaissle makes three starting changes with Nico Mantl, Maurits Kjærgaard and Andreas Ulmer all coming into the hosts XI.

1 hour and 15 Mins to KO: Team news is in

Sweeping changes from Klopp with just Adrian, Ibrahima Konate and former RB Salzburg star Naby Keita keeping their starting places from the 5-0 win against RB Leipzig.......but four-goal hero Darwin Nunez starts.

2 hours to KO: Four-star Darwin takes on Leipzig

Hello and welcome to today's live coverage of Red Bull Salzburg vs. Liverpool where there's plenty of talk about a new summer signing already.

Darwin Nunez netted an incredible four goals inside 45 minutes against RB Leipzig last time out.......with Reds fans EXCITED to see their new man in action once again!!!

MORE: RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool result: Darwin Nunez bags four goals in 5-0 thrashing

RB Salzburg vs. Liverpool lineups

With RB Salzburg already back in action in the Austrian Bundesliga, head coach Matthias Jaissle is expected to name a strong starting line up, with Noah Okafor earmarked to fill the void left by Karim Adeyemi.

RB Salzburg starting XI (4-1-4-1): Mantl (GK) — Ulmer, Bernardo, Solet, Van Der Brempt — Seiwald — Sucic, Sesko, Fernando, Kjærgaard — Okafor

RB Salzburg subs (11): Kohn, Vallci, Baidoo, Adamu, Bernede, Diambou, Koita, Simic, Diarra, Pavlovic, Dedic

Klopp has opted to name an increasingly stronger starting XI during preseason but first choice goalkeeper Alisson remains sidelined through injury with Diogo Jota and Alex Oxalade-Chamberlain also out.

Liverpool starting XI (4-3-3): Alisson (GK) — Milner, Gomez, Konate, Milner — Bajcetic, Keita, Jones — Carvalho, Nunez, Elliott

Liverpool subs (16): Hughes, Mrozek, Davies, Fabinho, van Dijk, Thiago, Firmino, Salah, Henderson, Diaz, Robertson, Matip, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, van den Berg, Morton

MORE: Liverpool preseason 2022: Squad list, tour schedule, results, fixtures

Liverpool in Premier League 2022/23: TV channels, live streams

  UK USA Canada Australia
TV channel Sky Sports, BT Sport USA Network, Telemundo, Universo — —
Streaming NOW TV, Sky Go, Amazon Prime fuboTV, Peacock fuboTV Optus Sport

UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and BT Sport streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on fuboTV. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game streams live and on demand exclusively via fuboTV.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream matches live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Author(s)
Feargal Brennan Photo
Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News.