Team
Amid 10 alterations made by Slot, there were competitive club debuts for Freddie Woodman in goal and Kieran Morrison as part of the attack.
Calvin Ramsay returned for his first senior Reds appearance since November 2022 as Andy Robertson captained the side.
Liverpool: Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Mac Allister (Nallo, 67), Chiesa, Robertson (Lucky, 67), Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison (Gordon, 67), Ngumoha (Kone-Doherty, 86).
Unused subs: Pecsi, Pinnington, Figueroa, Pilling, Laffey.
First half
Liverpool made a bright start to the sides’ third meeting already this season, seeking their first win of the rapid series.
Rio Ngumoha was blocked out as he looked to open his body and strike, before the ball was recycled to Milos Kerkez and his hoisted cross was misjudged by Morrison with his header.
A frequent out ball down the left, Ngumoha was a few inches wide of the far post with a swirler from the corner of the box having side-stepped into space.
Neither goalkeeper had been particularly burdened until the visitors’ Walter Benitez was called upon just shy of the half-hour.
Ngumoha brought down a cross-field pass, drew three opponents and slipped in Federico Chiesa, though the slightly narrowing angle meant the Italian’s low drive was saved with a boot.
Woodman made a comfortable catch from a Will Hughes effort, but it was the Eagles who would break the deadlock.
The opener came in the 41st minute, Daichi Kamada’s lofted pass into the penalty area attacked by Daniel Munoz. Joe Gomez got in a touch to stop Munoz but the ball rolled to Sarr to slide in a first-time finish.
It proved to be a double punch by the Emirates FA Cup holders before the interval.
Sarr flicked a forward pass on to Pino and ran through to collect a return from his teammate, then clinically swept across Woodman for 0-2.
