Liverpool end pre-season tour of United States with defeat to Roma

Goals from Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah have earned Roma a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at the Busch Stadium in St Louis.

Liverpool dominated possession during the early stages but by the seventh minute, Roma had created two decent opportunities with Stephen El Shaarawy forcing a one-handed save out of Alex Manninger and Dzeko firing over from close range.

Dzeko sent another chance marginally off-target as the Liverpool backline stood off him on the edge of the penalty area before the Merseyside giants went close through Daniel Sturridge, who saw his attempted clip over Alisson well parried by the goalkeeper.

Moments later, Sturridge headed a cross from James Milner straight at Alisson before up the other end, El Shaawary was given the freedom of the final third before only finding the hands of Manninger from 20 yards out.

Just before the half-hour mark, Roma finally netted the goal that their play deserved when Dzeko again received the ball on the edge of the area before sending a low effort into Manninger's bottom-left corner.

Salah wasted another chance for the Italian outfit soon afterwards but as the game entered first-half injury time, Liverpool equalised when Sheyi Ojo was perfectly placed to nod home from three yards after meeting Dejan Lovren's header back across goal.

Liverpool made 10 changes at the break with Georginio Wijnaldum the only player to remain on the pitch, but despite the injection of energy, Roma had the better of the play after the restart and regained the lead after 62 minutes.

Alessandro Florenzi cut back onto his left foot before crossing for Dzeko and although his powerful header was saved by Simon Mignolet, the rebound was snapped up by Salah who could not miss from a yard out.

Chances grew fewer and far between as both teams lost their fluency but Roma created the better opportunities with Leandro Paredes firing wide from 25 yards and substitute Federico Ricci forcing a marvellous stop out of Mignolet.

Liverpool almost found a late equaliser through Danny Ings, whose header from a Philippe Coutinho free kick was too close to Alisson, but all in all, Roma deserved their win as Jurgen Klopp's team ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a defeat.