bundesliga

Assist for Gio Reyna, Paco Alcacer on target again as Borussia Dortmund beat Liverpool

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Paco Alcacer scored again - with USA youth international Gio Reya providing the assist - as Borussia Dortmund powered to a 3-2 victory over Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in Indiana on Friday evening.

Liverpool 2-3 Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Alcacer (3'), 1-1 Wilson (35'), 1-2 Delaney (53'), 1-3 Bruun Larsen (58'), 2-3 Brewster (pen. 75')

Dortmund got off to a flying start at the Notre Dame Stadium, going ahead against the reigning European champions inside three minutes. Julian Brandt did well to keep the ball from going out of play on the right byline, and his cross into the middle was met by Gio Reyna, who beat Nathaniel Clyne to the ball. After tussling on the ground, the American teenager managed to touch it back to Alcacer to rifle in his second goal in as many games, following his strike against the Seattle Sounders. There were opportunities at either end in a lively encounter before Liverpool equalised, Harry Wilson slotting over the line from Fabinho's pass.

Lucien Favre made nine changes at the interval, bringing on the likes of Marco Reus, Thorgan Hazard and Nico Schulz among others, and the changes soon paid off. One of the substitutes, Marius Wolf, was particularly influential, first in spreading an excellent ball wide for Hazard to cross into the middle, giving Thomas Delaney a simple tap-in at the back post. Wolf's pace and directness were on display again moments later in a burst down the right, from where he crossed for Jacob Bruun Larsen to convert from close range. The match remained an open, engaging affair and there was tension until the final whistle once Rhian Brewter scored from the penalty spot in the closing stages, but ultimately Dortmund were able to hold firm and secure their second win in as many outings on their USA tour.

A number of stars began the game for Dortmund, including Jadon Sancho (2nd r.), Alcacer (3rd r.) and Mats Hummels. - AFP/Getty Images

Match stats

  • Alcacer was Dortmund's top Bundesliga scorer last season on 18 goals. Reus hit 17, followed by Sancho on 12.
  • Sancho also registered a league-high 14 assists in the Bundesliga last term.
  • Hummels, Mario Götze and Lukasz Piszczek are the only remaining members of Klopp's Bundesliga and DFB Cup double-winning team in 2011/12, although Hummels spent the last three seasons at Bayern.
  • Klopp reached the first of his three Champions League finals whilst in charge of Dortmund in 2013. BVB lost 2-1 to Bayern in the competition's first all-German final.
  • Joel Matip, who joined Schalke as a nine-year-old and spent 16 years at the club, faced Dortmund nine times in the Revierderby (W4, D4, L4).
  • Divock Origi scored six goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances whilst on loan at Wolfsburg in 2017/18.

Line-ups

Liverpool: Mignolet - Clyne (Alexander-Arnold 60'), Matip (van Dijk 60'), Gomez (Lovren 60'), Larouchi (Robertson 60') - Milner (Lewis 60'), Fabinho (Henderson 60'), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Wijnaldum 60') - Kent (Woodburn 60'), Origi (Brewster 60'), Wilson (Jones 60')
Unused subs: Lonergan, Atherton, Philipps, Hoever
Out: Alisson, Firmino (both extended break), Keita (groin), Mane (AFCON Cup), Salah (extended break), Shaqiri (calf)
Coach: Jürgen Klopp

Dortmund: Hitz - Piszczek (Morey 46'), Hummels (Pherai 82'), Toprak (Balerdi 46'), Guerreiro (Schulz 46') - Weigl (Witsel 46'), Brandt (Bruun Larsen 46') - Sancho (Hazard 46'), Götze (Reus 46'), Reyna (Wolf 46') - Alcacer (Delaney 46')
Unused subs: Oelschlägel, Raschl, Philipp
Out: Akanji (knock), Dahoud, Gomez, Hakimi, Gomez (all extended break), Schmelzer (muscular)
Coach: Lucien Favre

As it happened

FULL TIME!

It's all over in Notre Dame! Liverpool pushed hard for an equaliser late on but Dortmund held firm for the win!

90' THREE MINUTES TO GO

We're in to stoppage time now. Not long to go...

86' PHERAI GOES CLOSE

The ball pings around in Liverpools box and they can't clear their lines. It falls kindly for academy graduate Pherai, whose side-footed effort from 10 yards is saved on the line by Mignolet.

84' LAST-DITCH CLEARANCE FROM HAZARD

Just as Brewster looks certain to hammer in the equaliser from 12 yards following a headed knock-down, Hazard comes from nowhere to smash the ball to safety. He takes one on the ankle for his trouble.

82' GOOD FROM ROBERTSON

Liverpool left-back Robertson scuttles down the left flank, leaving Wolf trailing in his wake. He's got several targets to aim for in the middle, but he overhits his cross and Dortmund can clear.

78' WATER BREAK

Another refreshment break given the intense heat.

75' GOAL! BREWSTER REDUCES THE DEFICIT

Liverpool are awarded penalty are Morey sends Woodburn tumbling inside the BVB area. Brewster steps up to take it and leaves Hitz no chance, smashing his spot-kick high into the top corner.

72' OPENING FOR ROBERTSON

Some respite for Liverpool now and they almost get in behind Dortmund's defence as a lofted ball down the left almost releases Robertson. He tries a first-time cross into the middle - where Brewster is lurking - but he doesn't make clean contact and the danger passes by.

67' LIVERPOOL PENNED IN

Klopp's men are looking a bit off the pace at present - perhaps unsurprisingly given the number of subs a few minutes ago - and they're struggling to break out of their own half.

63' DORTMUND LOOKING GOOD

BVB are sizzling in attack, all quick feet, one-touch passing and working the angles. Yes it's only pre-season, but this bodes very well for Favre's side this season.

59' ON COME VAN DIJK ET AL.

Liverpool react to going 3-1 down by bringing on a host of first-team regulars, including Henderson, van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum and Robertson.

58' GOAL! BRUUN LARSEN MAKES IT THREE!

Another goal and once again Wolf is involved, driving down the right to the byline before cutting back for Bruun Larsen, who drills a low shot into the bottom corner.

53' GOAL! DELANEY RESTORES DORTMUND'S LEAD!

Wolf is involved once again, spraying an excellent pass from left to right, where he finds Morey, who's ball across the face of the goal is met by the unmarked Delaney at the back post. It's a simple tap-in for the Dane.

52' WOLF GOES CLOSE

Wolf collects possession wide on the left and cuts inside onto his right foot before bending a curling effort towards the far corner that Mignolet does well to save.

49' SCHULZ BLAZES WIDE

Schulz plays a neat one-two on the left-hand corner of the Liverpool box and has a couple of yards of space ahead of him. He's on his weaker right foot, but has a shot anyway - only to see it fly high and wide of the target.

46' NEW-LOOK DORTMUND

Favre changed most of his side at the interval, with just Hummels and Hitz remaining on the pitch from the first half. Reus, Witsel, Schulz, Hazard and Wolf are among the substitutes now on the pitch.

SECOND HALF!

Dortmund get the action going again.

HALF-TIME!

There's nothing separating the teams at the interval. It's been entertaining so far, with chances at either end and some lovely interplay from both sides, but 1-1 it remains.

45+1' UNREAL FROM HUMMELS

Hummels plays an unbelievable pass with the outside of his right boot over the Liverpool defence and straight into the path of Götze, who doesn't even have to break stride to control it. He's only got Mignolet to beat in the Liverpool goal, but fires straight at him.

42' SUPERB FROM HITZ

Wilson and Kent combine again for Liverpool, this time the former playing through the latter. He goes one-on-one with Hitz, who does brilliantly to force him wide and narrow his shooting angle and eventually Dortmund get enough numbers back behind the ball to clear.

35' LIVERPOOL EQUALISE!

Liverpool pull level and it's a nicely worked goal. Fabinho has the ball just outside the Dortmund penalty area and slides a low ball through to Kent, who dummies it for Wilson. The young attacker takes a touch to turn before bending the ball past Hitz and inside the far post.

30' WATER BREAK

There's a break in play for the players to take water on board as it's a hot one out there.

27' ORIGI SHOOTS

Some nice work from Clyne and Milner down the right ends with the ball arriving at Origi's feet, about 25 yards out. He's on his weaker left foot and tries a shot, but it's lacking in pace and doesn't trouble Hitz.

A LOOK AT ALCACER'S GOAL...

19' DORTMUND ON THE BREAK

Brandt, who's been superb so far, finds Sancho in space wide on the right and for a moment Dortmund look to have a three-on-two chance. However, the ball catches in the turf and Sancho is forced to check back, allowing Liverpool to recover and crowd Dortmund out.

17' BIG SAVE FROM HITZ

Milner plays a beautiful ball over the top of the Dortmund defence and finds Wilson. He's on the edge of the area with just Hitz to beat and tries to lob the onrushing goalkeeper, who anticipates the shot and makes an excellent save.

15' NEAT TRIANGLES

There's been some lovely one-touch passing from both teams in midfield and out of the back, but neither side has troubled the other in the final third in the last couple of minutes.

10' KENT HITS THE POST!

Liverpool break forward at pace down the right through Oxlade-Chamberlain, who dinks a cross into the middle, looking for the unmarked Origi. It's too strong for him, but Kent comes charging in at the back post and shoots first time, only for a combination of Hitz and the upright to keep his effort out.

6' MATIP GOES CLOSE

Milner swings in a deep corner from the right and finds the unmarked Matip at the back post. He hangs in the air and directs a header back across goal, but it fizzes just wide of the post.

3' GOAL! ALCACER BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!

Liverpool start strongly but fall asleep at a thrown deep in their own half. Brandt flicks it into the middle, just keeping the ball form going out for a goal kick. Reyna beats Clyne to the ball on the edge of the six-yard box but although he can't finish himself, Alcacer is well placed to lash in the opener from close range.

1' KICK-OFF! And we're under way in South Bend as Liverpool get the ball rolling.

WATCH OUT FOR ORIGI

Bundesliga followers will be familiar with Divock Origi thanks to his spell at Wolfsburg in 2017/18. Although he only struck seven goals in 36 competitive outings for the Wolves on loan from Liverpool (playing once against Dortmund - a 0-0 draw on Matchday 18), he came alive in the latter stages of the Champions League last term, hitting two in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona and once in the final over Tottenham.

BIG GUNS FOR BVB

Compared to the game against Seattle earlier in the week, when Favre started four U19 players, the veteran tactician has fielded a stronger XI here. Julian Brandt makes his first start as a Dortmund player, while Mats Hummels will marshal the backline. Marwin Hitz plays in goal instead of Roman Bürki, who is rested.

NO 'INDIANA JONES'?

You can't help but feel that Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has missed a trick with his team selection by leaving 18-year-old academy midfielder Curtis Jones on the bench. Just imagine the headlines if he were to score the winner in Indiana...

Regardless, the 2019 Champions League winners begin with just two players that started the continental final against Tottenham in May: former Schalke defender Joel Matip and midfielder Fabinho. Joe Gomez, James Milner and Divock Origi all come off then bench to play in that game, however, with the latter scoring a decisive late goal in that 2-0 win in Madrid.

REYNA STARTS FOR DORTMUND!

BVB boss Lucien Favre is playing to the crowd with his starting line-up by fielding US youth international Gio Reyna in attacking midfield alongside Jadon Sancho and Mario Götze. The 16-year-old made his first-team debut in the win over the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday and will be looking to play himself into his coach's thoughts for the coming season here.

HELLO AND WELCOME to our coverage of Borussia Dortmund's clash with reigning European champions Liverpool! We're all set for a cracker...