Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the friendly in St Louis between Liverpool and Roma.

It has been less than 48 hours since they defeated AC Milan but Liverpool are back in action as they continue their preparations for the new season. They've already won five of their six pre-season fixtures but a second win over Italian opposition in less than two days would really put Jurgen Klopp's side in high spirits should they be able to prevail in St Louis.

As you've probably read above, tonight's game is being staged at a baseball stadium. Wondering how things look in St Louis? Here you are...

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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 1, 2016

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news. You may be surprised at the strength of the Liverpool starting lineup...

LIVERPOOL XI: Manninger, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Ojo, Mane, Firmino, Sturridge

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Mignolet, Benteke, Coutinho, Henderson, Moreno, Lallana, Brannagan, Ings, Stewart, Wisdom, Markovic, Randall, Alexander-Arnold, George

If you thought that Klopp may start winding his players down before facing Barcelona at the weekend, think again.

The German has named a team that suggests that goals and chances must surely be frequent in this game. Wijnaldum, Ojo, Mane, Firmino and Sturridge all feature in an extremely offensive setup with it also looking like Milner will take his place at left-back. There is also a start for veteran stopper Manninger, who needs to get up to speed after the injury to Karius.

ROMA XI: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Juan Jesus, Emerson, Nainggolan, Pares, Strootman, Salah, Dzeko, El Shaarawy

Like Klopp, Spalletti has named plenty of his big guns for the game in Missouri but there is no place in the side for Totti. Nevertheless, Salah, Dzeko and El Shaaraway all feature in an exciting front three and without jumping the gun, there must surely be goals in this game, right?

Like us, you probably assumed that this fixture was part of the International Champions Cup at some point over the past 48 hours but it's not. It has no relevance to that competition but that shouldn't stop both sides treating this fixture as an important match. Liverpool have less than two weeks to go until they face Arsenal in their opening Premier League fixture while Roma have not competed in a friendly for two weeks so need to put in the miles to get up to speed for the start of the Serie A campaign.

PREDICTION! Friendlies are never easy to call but we are going for a Liverpool win here. This is their seventh match of a nine-game schedule and players will be eager to impress Klopp. They should also be considerably sharper than their opponents too so we are going for a 3-1 victory for the Merseyside giants.

I don't think the Busch Stadium is going to be full to capacity but I hope there is going to be a decent crowd attend this game. It's a beautiful setting and the game has the potential to be as scorching as the weather.

Here comes the two sides. It's a very lengthy walk from the changing rooms to the centre of the pitch but they've finally got there. We will be underway very shortly.

Roma get the game started in St Louis.

Liverpool have had plenty of possession during the opening three minutes but they are yet to do anything with it. Roma finally got some touches on the ball but they were quick to play the ball back in order to enjoy an early rest.

Almost a chance for Liverpool as Mane and Sturridge link up on the edge of the penalty area but Sturridge's final ball is over-hit and straight into the hands of Alisson.

SHOT! After withstanding that pressure, Roma broke up the other end and El Shaawary was quick to get a shot in on goal from 18 yards but Manninger was able to pull off a very solid intervention with his right hand. That will bring a smile to his manager's face. He certainly didn't look 39-years-old.

CHANCE! They've not had a lot of possession but Roma should be ahead in this game. A wonderful ball into the penalty area found Dzeko but after beating Clyne at the back post, he send his first-time shot over the crossbar.

This game is being played at a really fast pace. It's probably an indication that the players know that they will only play 45 minutes before being substituted. Roma have grown into this match and look much the better side now.

SHOT! Another opportunity for Dzeko and another close shave for Liverpool. They are really struggling at the back. The Bosnian attacker turned sharply on the edge of the area before seeing his shot just evaded the bottom corner.

CHANCE! It has to be said, Liverpool fans should be encouraged by the communication and link-up play between Mane and Sturridge. Mane's pass to Sturridge is perfectly weighted for Sturridge to deceive the defender and get clear on goal but Alisson is there to get a hand to the forward's clip on goal before it is eventually cleared a couple of yards from goal.

There are a few negatives for Milner playing at left-back but his energy down the flank is not one of them and he does superbly to get to the by-line before crossing to the back post. However, on this occasion, the ball in has a little bit too much weight on it and Roma survive.

CHANCE! Liverpool are playing some beautiful football but so far, they can't find the breakthrough. Firmino combines with an onrushing Milner and the England international's cross finds Sturridge at the back post. However, the forward's header is tame and straight at Alisson.

CHANCE! Some of Liverpool's offensive play has been a delight to watch but they look very shaky at the back. Shaarawy is given the freedom of the final third as no Liverpool defender tries to close him down but despite advancing to the edge of the penalty area, his shot is weak and Manninger gathers comfortably.

SHOT! Most of Firmino's play has been focused on setting up chances for his teammates but a quick turn of pace creates an opening for himself. Unfortunately for the Brazilian, his 20-yard strike is too close to Alisson.

It's time for the hydration break. It's very humid in Missouri so I'm sure that the two sets of players appreicate the brief stoppage.

Liverpool weren't helped by the stoppage but it's a poor goal to concede. A long ball found Dzeko and the former Manchester City man is given time to turn and get a low drive on goal from 20 yards. It didn't have a great deal of pace on it but it was enough to find the bottom corner. It had been coming.

CHANCE! Salah has been the quieter of Roma's attacking three but he should do much better here. The ball found him at the back post but he miscued his left-footed effort and it went straight into Manninger's hands.

BOOKING! We'll put that down to the inexperience of youth. Ojo goes flying into El Shaarawy, even though he had little chance to win the ball. This may be just a friendly but that's a clear yellow card.

There are just five minutes of the first half remaining and the pace of this game is finally relenting. That said, Roma have looked much fitter than many anticipated. They are having the better of the play against a team who have a lot more minutes under their belts.

Roma can count themselves unfortunate not to have been awarded a spot kick. The ball was played into the feet of Dzeko but he was soon upended by Lovren, who cynically went into the back of the forward but the referee waved play on.

Moments after two minutes of added-on time are signalled, Liverpool find the equaliser! A corner from Milner finds Lovren at the back post and with his header back across goal going wide, Ojo was perfectly placed to stoop down low to head the ball in from three yards.

The half-time whistle goes in St Louis and that late goal sees the two sides go into the break on level terms. Roma have perhaps had the better of the play and chances but Liverpool have always looked a threat going forward and it's not really a surprise that they have found a way back into this match. We should have a lively second half coming up.

We are still awaiting confirmation of the alterations but Liverpool have made plenty. We will update you as we go along.

We are back underway in St Louis.

Apparently, Liverpool have made 10 substitutions at half time. Only Wijnaldum remains on the pitch.

Roma are yet to make any changes so Liverpool will see this as an opportunity to take advantage and nick a second. Like in the first half, they are dominating the early possession but haven't come close to finding a goal.

A late challenge on Emerson from Henderson has left the Roma man requiring some treatment. I think he will be ok to continue but Spalletti will take no risks on him.

Emerson finally recovers and he will continue and the extended stoppage almost catches Liverpool out again. The resulting free kick from Paredes was sent in the direction of Nainggolan but he just fails to make a telling touch towards the back post.

Liverpool are starting to put together some nice football again but they struggling to carve out the same quality of chances that they did in the opening 45 minutes.

Roma retake the lead and it's Salah with the goal. A cross from Florenzi was headed on goal by Dzeko. The ball essentially hit Mignolet with the Belgian stopper having to move but it only fell into the path of Salah who couldn't miss from a yard out.

The goal was followed by several Roma changes with Salah one of the men to make way. Club legend Francesco Totti has been given the chance to impress during the final 25 minutes.

The alterations haven't done a whole lot for the action in this game. As usually happens in friendlies, things are quietening down a touch. Brannagan has just been introduced for Liverpool in place of Wijnaldum.

SHOT! It's a tad ambitious from Paredes but perhaps he was trying to break the tension. A quick interchange on the edge of the box ends with Paredes trying his luck from 30 yards but the ball goes two or three yards wide of Mignolet's right post.

Coutinho hasn't featured too much since being introduced at half time but he twists and turns his way into a shooting position on the left-hand side of the box. He eventually decides to pass to a teammate on the edge of the box but less said about the shot the better - it was fored straight back at the Brazilian.

Once again, it doesn't look like we are going to see anything of Benteke. It's another pre-season game that would have passed by without him seeing any action. Surely he will be on his way out of Anfield when Liverpool return to England.

Totti is adamant that he should be awarded a penalty after being felled inside the penalty area but the referee ignores his appeals. Mignolet is eventually forced to make a save from Ricci but Totti is more bothered about not been given a chance to score from the spot.

This is a blow for Liverpool. Moreno has suffered a knock to his knee and he is having to be replaced by Randall. Hopefully it isn't nothing serious, however.

CHANCE! For a moment, it looks like Ings is going to find an equaliser for Liverpool after meeting Coutinho's free kick but his glancing header is well kept out by Alisson, who has had a good game for the Italian side.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes in St Louis and Roma have comfortably held on to secure a 2-1 win over Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp will be disappointed that his team could not equalise for a second time but he will have been left with the impression that improvements still need to be made ahead of the new season.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us nad we hope to see you again for more friendly action later in the week. Goodbye for now.