Late own goal gives Reds narrow win over Mainz

A late own goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Bundesliga side Mainz in their first full pre-season game in Austria.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the best chance of the first half, seeing his effort in the box saved well by Robin Zentner, before Liverpool changed all 11 players at half-time at the Goldberg Stadium in Grodig.

Mainz had chances of their own in a dull second half, as substitute goalkeeper Adrian tipped over Dominik Wanner’s brilliant volley direct from a corner, before Luca Kilian failed to get his feet right as he diverted Owen Beck’s left-wing cross into the net (87).

Liverpool’s next pre-season fixture comes against Hertha Berlin in Austria on Thursday.

Ibrahima Konate started his first full game for Liverpool in a defensive line alongside Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas.

Bundesliga side Mainz, who are two weeks further in their preparation for the new season, looked energetic in the first half hour, but created little in the way of clear-cut chances to trouble Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.

Liverpool began to turn the screw late in the first half as good work from Harvey Elliott and Mohamed Salah on the right flank created a chance for Sadio Mane, but his poked effort at the near post was turned away by Zentner.

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Zentner was tested again moments later as the impressive Naby Keita did well to find Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left of the box, but as he opened his body up looking to slot into the far corner, the Mainz goalkeeper did well to tip behind.

Jurgen Klopp changed all XI players in the second half, giving a rare opportunity to Billy Koumetio, Leighton Clarkson, Kaide Gordon, Owen Beck and Tyler Morton, but like the opening periods of the first half, the game struggled to get going.