Liverpool 1-1 Malaysia XI, pre-season friendly: as it happened
THE TELEGRAPH
NATIONAL coach Dollah Salleh stood tall and proud on the touchline after his Malaysia Selection side held Liverpool 1-1 in a friendly at National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
And if Norshahrul Idlan Talaha had scored in the second minute of stoppage time, Brendan Rodgers’s side would have returned to England with a red face.
Dollah must be relieved with the draw after having faced criticism for the recent poor run of his national team. Malaysia, who had five foreigners in their team, played tight and relied on long balls to penetrate Liverpool’s defence.
Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh tested Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan with a grounder in the seventh minute before making his second chance count six minutes later.
The Liberia international latched on a short pass from Chad Souza inside Liverpool’s box before muscling past a defender and picking his spot to beat keeper Bogdan for the unexpected lead.
However, Jordon Ibe cut in from the right and equalised for Liverpool with a stunning strike to beat Malaysia XI goalkeeper Khairul Azhan Khalid in the 28th minute.
Khairul Azhan denied the visitors by blocking Dovock Origi’s powerful shot in the 42nd minute and James Milner’s effort three minutes later before half-time.
In the second half, Liverpool had more possession but they were frustrated by Malaysia’s stout defending.
Keeper Khairul Azhan was also unbeatable making countless saves to deny the five-time Champions League winners. Norshahrul gave Liverpool anxious moments with his darting runs and dazzling skills in attack but the striker’s efforts were wasted by poor finishing.
- NST
Liverpool held by spirited Malaysia XI in Kuala Lumpur, as Jordon Ibe scores a stunning goal
3:44PM BST 24 Jul 2015
Result: Malaysia XI 1-1 Liverpool
Full time!
Patrick Ronaldinho rises from the bench to celebrate his Facebook numbers this draw, made possible by his explosive first-half contribution. A good runout for Liverpool, in which some players impressed (Ibe, Lallana, Clyne) and others did not (Origi, Milner).
Thanks very much for reading, and discovering with me the wonderful world of Patrick Ronaldinho.
Bye!
90 min +3
A cacophony of Malaysian trumpets are bringing this game to a chaotic close. Liverpool press for a late winner, but the hosts stands firm for a creditable draw.
90 min
James Milner trudges off to be replaced by the high squad-number of Pedro Chirivella.
89 min
No Patrick Ronaldinho, no party.
84 min
This second half isn't quite petering out, but only because it never reallypetered in. Liverpool will be happy to have come through this unscathed (so far) with the league season just a fortnight away.
80 min
Alberto Moreno drives at the Malaysian defence, and wins a free-kick 30 yards out. Clyne's evening is over - he'll be replaced by young Daniel Cleary - while Joe Maguire comes on in place of Moreno.
Henderson stands over the ball, but his attempt to curl it into the far, right corner is blocked.
76 min
Malaysia XI's no.10, Chad Souza, has a half-chance to restore their lead but shoots over on the turn from eight yards out.
75 min
Here's Patrick Ronaldinho in happier, simpler times:
72 min
A first contribution of note from James Milner, who finds space on the left to hammer a shot straight into the midriff of the Malaysian goalkeeper, who is in a great deal of pain as a result. Jordan Rossiter replaces Lucas, and Sheyi Ojo puts the misfiring Divock Origi out of his misery.
69 min
Disastrous news for global fans of Patrick Ronaldinho! He's not fine after all, and crumples in a heap as soon as he tries to return to the game. He's being stretchered off...
:-(
64 min
Liverpool are sportingly returned the ball after they allowed Patrick Ronaldinho to receive treatment - he's fine, by the way, don't worry - and are straight back on the front foot.
61 min
Lallana thinks he's put Liverpool in the lead, but his left-foot shot is diverted, via the heel of a defender, on to the angle of post and bar. Lively stuff in this second half, but it's all lacking in a bit of panache. Patrick Ronaldinhoraces through for the Malaysian select team, but he's dealt with by a combination of Skrtrel and Lovren. He's down injured again.
58 min
Lovren has another chance, from a quickly taken free-kick, but his header is too high. This match doesn't matter even slightly, of course, but Liverpool have been rather wasteful.
55 min
Clyne races into space on the right, but rushes his cross and it's blocked easily. Back come Liverpool, though, and Henderson releases Origi in the area....but his poked finish lacks power and direction. Not a great showing from the Belgian so far.
52 min
Lallana sells the loveliest of dummies to switch the ball on to his right foot, 18 yards out, but his shot is straight at Azhan again.
51 min
Patrick Ronaldinho makes a nuisance of himself in the Liverpool box, before a shot flies wildly over Bogdan's crossbar.
49 min
Alberto Moreno performs a highly unnecessary rabona, before Origi is foiled by a last-ditch tackle. It's quite lierally all happening.
47 min
We're back under way in the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. No apparent changes for Liverpool.
Half time
Entertaining stuff in Kuala Lumpur. Liverpool responded well to the early blow of that goal from Patrick Ronaldinho, and dominated the hosts for the rest of that first half. Jordon Ibe was relentlessly positive down the right, combining well with the equally adventurous Nathaniel Clyne, and his goal was of Premier League quality. Origi and Milner have been quiet, though - I would expect to see Danny Ings in the second half, after his reportedly impressive showing in training yesterday that had Robbie Fowler cooing.
45 min
The Malaysia Xi have been forced into a change: Akil has come for Idlan. Adam Lallana tries his luck from 25 yards but it's straight into the hands of Azhan in goal.
43 min
Chance for Origi! But his first-time left foot shot is saved by Azhan, and his looping headed follow-up attempt is claimed on the line by the grateful goalkeeper.
42 min
Here's future Anfield contract rebel Jordon Ibe's stunning equaliser:
40 min
Clyne whips in a cross, which has a little too much pace for the onrushing Origi to do anything with. The hastily-assembled Malaysia XI are clinging on a bit now.
38 min
Jordon Ibe once again threatens, but this time he's foiled by an inch-perfect tackle in the box.
35 min
Here's how Patrick Ronaldinho's official Facebook page is doing:
If you could buy shares in Patrick Ronaldinho, I'd recommend getting in there now.
32 min
Liverpool now attacking in waves, almost exclusively down the right, via Ibe and Clyne. James Milner's been rather quiet so far, meanwhile.
GOAL! Malaysia XI 1-1 Liverpool (Ibe, 28 min)
What a goal from Jordon Ibe! He thinks about crossing from the right, but instead cuts inside and sends a bullet of a left-foot shot into the top corner at the near post! He's been the best Liverpool performer so far, and that's ample reward his sheer endeavour.
26 min
Some fine Liverpool interplay ends with Jordan Henderson weighing up his options at the byline, but there's no-one on hand to convert his cross. Liverpool well on top now, with the hosts possibly having resigned themselves to having peaked in this match with that early goal from Patrick Ronaldinho.
23 min
Liverpool back on the ball, attempting to restore some order. Ibe again tries to force the issue, but he's tracked all across the pitch by his diligent marker.
19 min
Jordan Henderson storms into the Malaysian box to get on the end of a delightful Lallana pass, flicks the ball desperately over the keeper....but goes down. No penalty, despite his angry protests. Lucas Leiva is getting treatment for a gaping wound under his left eye. It's all kicking off in Kuala Lumpur! You'll be glad to know that Patrick Ronaldinho is back on the pitch, too.
17 min
Dejan Lovren ventures forward and tries to get on the end of a Lallana cross, but his header is wide. Patrick Ronaldinho has just wiped out Adam Bogdan, and somehow come off worse. He's wearing no.4, of course, the big Liberian striker.
16 min
Such is the support for Liverpool in these parts that Patrick Ronaldinho'sgoal has more or less stunned the 65,000-ish crowd into silence.
GOAL! Malaysia XI 1-0 Liverpool (Patrick Ronaldinho!!!!)
That man again! He races through on the left, muscling past Skrtel, and pokes an unstoppable right-foot shot past Bogdan to stun the tourists! Great stuff. Patrick Ronaldinho!
12 min
Clyne returns, apparently OK, but his opponent seems to have come off worse and will be replaced.
11 min
Liverpool dominating possession on the half-decent surface in the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. Nathaniel Clyne is wiped out by a very strong (but fair) challenge out on the right - his jaw took the brunt of a Malaysian shoulder.
7 min
Ibe's made a bright start, and this time he roams across the pitch in search of an opening, but he's dispossessed and the Malaysia XI break forward. The aforementioned Patrick Ronaldinho - whose name I will type in bold throughout this match - stings Bogdan's palms from 20 yards.
5 min
Jordon Ibe races down the right, and tries to find Origi in the middle, but he just runs out of room.
1 min
Huge anticipation for the kick-off, which has to be retaken because the ball didn't go forward. The crowd are going wild already.
13.47
The Malaysia XI have a striker called Patrick Ronaldinho.
13.45
What a banner this is!
13.43
An unexpected treat: Mark Lawrenson's on co-commentary duty!
13.36
Liverpool's official TV channel build up to this high-stakes encounter with a bizarre segment in which Luis Garcia prepares a hug of sangria for a topless Dietmar Hamann. I'll spare you the screenshot.
13.16
Good afternoon! You want a starting Liverpool line-up, I expect:
11.00
Liverpool last faced a Malaysia XI back in 2011, with Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani putting in an inpsired performance and goals from Charlie Adam, David N'Gog, Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt sealing a 6-3 victory.
However, The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce says this time Brendan Rodgers's side will go up against a weakened lineup.
"Malaysian Super League clubs are unhappy with the timing of the exhibition game in the middle of their domestic season," Pearce said. "There have also been complaints about who will benefit financially from the lucrative showdown with Brendan Rodgers's men."
Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel, Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana are all expected to start, while Danny Ings may pip Divock Origi as the first-choice centre-forward.
As the travelling Reds settle into the final stage of their tour in Malaysia, Melwood has been a hive of activity back in Liverpool.
As well as Roberto Firmino arriving for his first day, the club completed a deal for Christian Benteke - a move warmly welcomed by Martin Skrtel.
"I've played against him a few times and it was always tough to mark him because he's big and strong," he said.
"I think it's a great signing for us and he'll be more than welcome at the club. I can't wait to meet him at Melwood and work together with him."
Join Adam from 1pm BST for all the build-up plus live action...
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