Hugo Ekitike almost made the perfect introduction to the Liverpool fans with a clever goal on his debut as the Merseysiders played out a goalless first half with Yokohama F Marinos in their latest pre-season friendly in the Far East.
The game at the Nissan Stadium went ahead despite Tsunami fears in northern Japan and there was a moving tribute to Diogo Jota, killed earlier this month in a car crash in Spain, before kick off.
When the action did get underway, it was Liverpool who dominated possession against a team that sit 18th in the 20-team J.League.
Ekitike was handed his debut following his big-money move from Eintracht Frankfurt and lined-up in an attacking XI that also contained Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo threatens for Liverpool
And it was Gakpo that had the first chance for Liverpool with a curling effort that struck the right-hand post.
The Netherlands international came close again with a shot that was saved while Dominik Szoboszlai saw a chance smuggled clear by the home defence after he went round the goalkeeper.
Ekitike almost broke the deadlock a minute later, cleverly diverting Conor Bradley’s low cross towards the target but seeing his effort well saved by home goalkeeper Park Il-Gyu.
At the other end, Reds goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was also looking assured.
Having dropped a clanger in the weekend defeat to AC Milan, the Georgian, who continues to stand in for Alisson while he addresses a personal issue in his native Brazil, produced a superb one-handed stop to deny Jun Amano’s header.
