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Reds boss Arne Slot understandably tried to quell some of the growing hype after a stunning solo goal from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha in Japan.

Yet on the day Luis Diaz departed and left-sided options are being looked at, the signing from Chelsea’s academy last summer shone brightly in a 3-1 comeback win against Yokohama F.

Florian Wirtz, the £116m man from Bayer Leverkusen, also got his first goal in Liverpool colours on what ended up a decent workout on a dodgy pitch in the Far East.

That was the equaliser after Asahi Uenaka's 55th-minute opener for the J1 League side.

Then they face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield before their Premier League title defence kicks-off at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.

Slot added: “There are no moments to enjoy what we did last season.

So, our full focus is now on this season and how we, I need to prepare the players for another tough season.

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“Because I thought last season was already tough but if you look at what all the Premier League teams are doing, the Premier League is even going to get stronger than last season.”

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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.


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