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Liverpool took on Yokohama F. Marinos in a pre-season friendly in Japan on July 30, 2025, with a strong starting lineup including Mo Salah, Florian Wirtz, Virgil van Dijk, and new signing Hugo Ekitike making his unofficial debut. The Reds dominated much of the first half at Nissan Stadium, with Salah particularly standing out by orchestrating Liverpool's attacking play.

Mo Salah delivered a masterclass in passing, creating key chances with long balls, notably feeding Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai. Ian Doyle, a Liverpool Echo journalist, remarked live that "Salah is running the show here with his long balls over the top," highlighting his influence on breaking down the Yokohama defense during the first half.

Hugo Ekitike’s debut performance drew mixed reviews. Playing 45 minutes as expected by manager Arne Slot, the French striker showed glimpses of promise, including good link-up play and an audacious backheeled effort. The Liverpool Echo gave him a 6/10 rating, noting he "took one pass in from Salah nicely early on" but did not have clear chances. Sky Sports’ Peter Smith observed that Ekitike “was straight into the action” but largely remained on the fringes, occasionally pinning defenders and attempting smart flicks, though overall it was a quiet first half for the new signing.

The team showed dominance against their J1 League opponents, who struggled to contain Salah’s creative threat and Ekitike's positioning upfront. The match served as useful preparation, with Liverpool's attacking players, particularly Salah, impressing ahead of the new season.

PP