5 moments missed as Salah squanders penalty and Liverpool collapse against Lyon

Mohamed Salah was made to pay for a penalty miss as Liverpool suffered defeat against Lyon in Dubai in a mid-season friendly.

Fabio Carvalho put the Reds in front inside a minute, tapping home after some suspect defending from Laurent Blanc's side. It was almost two within 15 minutes, as Roberto Firmino was brought down in the box by Malo Gusto, but Salah's penalty was saved by Anthony Lopes and Blanc's men made him pay with an equaliser before the break.

Jurgen Klopp's men will be back in domestic action on December 22, with an EFL Cup trip to Manchester City, and the manager named a strong side for the first of two friendlies before that game. While a number of Reds stars have been out on World Cup duty, there was room for the likes of Salah, Firmino and Thiago Alcantara in an experienced XI, though some fringe players also got minutes as the French side took the game away from Liverpool in the second half.

Lyon had few genuine chances in the first half, but Caoimhin Kelleher was eventually called into action 10 minutes from the break as he palmed away a fiercely-struck effort from Moussa Dembele. Five minutes later, though, a needless mix-up between Kelleher and Andy Robertson allowed Alexandre Lacazette through to score an equaliser.

Liverpool rung the changes after the break, with the likes of Calvin Ramsay and Bobby Clark getting a run-out. Summer signing Ramsay went close just minutes after coming on, forcing a good low save from Lopes with a stinging shot.

Youngsters including Ben Doak and Layton Stewart were introduced on the hour mark, but it was one of the Lyon subs, 20-year-old winger Bradley Barcola, who struck the next goal. Barcola hit the post as Lyon chased a third, and they eventually made victory safe when Lacazette smashed home his second of the game.

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Every match in this friendly tournament goes to penalties regardless of the result, and Ramsay was denied by Lopes as Lyon won the shoot-out 5-3. Here are the major moments as last season's Premier League runners-up ended up second-best against their Ligue 1 opponents.

1. Reds' pressing still impressive

The opener came from the kind of pressing high up the pitch that we have come to expect from Jurgen Klopp teams in England and Germany. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both put Lyon's back-line in a panic and Carvalho is unlikely to ever score an easier goal.

If Premier League opponents are a little rusty after the mid-season break, this kind of sharpness could easily reap further rewards. After the cup game against Man City they will have two league games in quick succession, against Aston Villa and Leicester

2. Salah's penalty woe

Less than 24 hours after a missed penalty ended England's World Cup dream, Salah missed from the spot in a lower-stakes scenario. His spot-kick wasn't especially difficult for Lyon's Lopes to keep out, and it was the last thing the Egyptian star would have wanted.

Last season's top scorer has found goals harder to come by this term, with just six in 14 league outings before the break. The former Roma man had begun to hit his stride in the autumn, scoring once against Leeds and twice against Spurs, and now it's about whether he can pick up where he left off.

3. Bajcetic staking a claim

Stefan Bajcetic has been touted as a future first-team star, and the young Spaniard was not afraid to get involved in the middle of the park. The 18-year-old made an impressive intervention to set up an attack for the Reds midway through the first half, and found himself in the book not long after as he slid into a challenge with Corentin Tolisso.

Bajcetic didn't emerge for the second half, but one man who did enter the fray was Calvin Ramsay. The 19-year-old defender has played just two senior games since arriving from Aberdeen, but looked to make up for lost time with some impressive movement in the final third.

First-choice pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho will be well rested, having barely featured for their respective countries at the World Cup. However, as they prepare for a return to action, they have been given a reminder of what their competition looks like.

4. Elliott injury worry

There were just 28 minutes on the clock as Harvey Elliott made way for Melkamu Frauendorf, and the former Fulham man appeared to shake his head while leaving the field. Liverpool fans will hope his withdrawal was only a precaution, with a busy few weeks on the horizon.

Liverpool have had injury issues throughout the season, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among those to miss games. Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain did appear in Dubai, though, with both getting run-outs from the bench.

Elliott had an injury setback himself last season, with a dislocated ankle keeping him out of action for months. The Reds will hope this latest setback isn't as serious, and we'll likely find out more in the coming days.

5. Klopp with a keeper call to make

When Liverpool return to competitive action, first-choice goalkeeper Alisson will be available once more. The Brazilian international looked for a while as though he might be involved in a World Cup final, only for the Selecao's dream to end against Croatia in the last eight.

With the keeper not yet available, it was Kelleher who started against Lyon. The Irishman wasn't troubled early on, but a miscommunication with left-back Robertson gifted Lyon a goal out of nothing, and he wasn't even able to redeem himself in the post-match penalty shoot-out thanks to the introduction of Adrian.

Throughout Klopp's reign. Kelleher has established himself as a cup goalkeeper. The manager will hope he can put this game behind him over the next fortnight, though, with EFL Cup specialists Man City sure to give him a real test.

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