Liverpool suffered their first pre-season defeat after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 against Leeds United in an entertaining encounter at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Reds looked comfortable during an impressive first-half display, but a dramatic turnaround after the interval saw Leeds score four unanswered goals to claim a memorable victory.
Andoni Iraola's side seemed in total control during the opening 45 minutes at Soldier Field, with Luke Chambers handing Liverpool an early lead by finishing from close range, before marquee summer arrival Florian Wirtz doubled the advantage in the 40th minute with a sweeping volleyed finish off Jeremie Frimpong's cross.
However, the tide turned dramatically following a raft of half-time substitutions, with Daniel Farke's Leeds United emerging after the break with renewed urgency and ruthlessly flipping the fixture on its head.
Striking four times in just 25 second-half minutes, Leeds tore through Liverpool's altered lineup with devastating counter-attacking football to pull off a sensational 4-2 victory.
The loss raises concerns about Liverpool's defensive weaknesses ahead of the new season, with the Reds struggling to cope with Leeds' aggressive attack in the second half.
Defensive organisation deteriorated as the second half progressed, with individual mistakes and poor positioning allowing Leeds to repeatedly exploit the spaces behind Liverpool's defence.
The absence of Joe Gomez and Jérémy Jacquet, and Virgil van Dijk not in the squad, meant Liverpool lacked stability at the heart of the defence, and Iraola must address these structural flaws quickly to ensure his squad is fully prepared for the demands ahead.
