Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon in New York as Jurgen Klopp's side once again showed defensive weaknesses in pre-season.
For the third game in a row, Liverpool conceded at least two goals - and while first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker will soon return to boost Klopp's defence, the coach may be alarmed in the manner that his side are currently shipping goals with the new season fast approaching.
It took Sporting just four minutes to take the lead in New York, with Simon Mignolet - so impressive in pre-season until this game - inexplicably spilling a speculative long-range from Bruno Fernandes into his own net.
Liverpool rallied from that early setback as Divock Origi struck his second goal in two goals, finishing from close range off a deflected Jordan Henderson effort 20 minutes in at Yankee Stadium.
Georginio Wijnaldum struck a minute before the interval to send Liverpool into the break 2-1 ahead, though Wendel struck a well-taken effort eight minutes after the break to level things up for Sporting.
Neither side could find a breakthrough as substitutions disrupted the flow of the game, though there was a long-awaited debut for Sepp van den Berg as the 17-year-old Liverpool centre-back took to the pitch after finally being granted international clearance by Fifa.
While the likes of Origi have impressed in the absence of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, Klopp may be concerned that his first-choice defence (barring Alisson) still look rusty with the new campaign just two weeks away.
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Starting lineups
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Origi
Sporting XI: Renan, Ilori, Luis Neto, Mathieu, Borja, Doumbia, Wendel, Raphinha, Bruno Fernandes, Vietto, Luiz Phellype
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KICK-OFF!
We are underway in New York, with Liverpool in their new green third kit.
We are closing in on kick-off now.
While Jurgen Klopp and his players will no doubt be confident heading into the new season, they will be looking for a win to lift any spirits that may be a little low.
Having lost the last two games - including a bad-tempered clash against Sevilla - and also lost Nathaniel Clyne to a long-term injury, a performance with a win would be the perfect tonic to bid farewell to their US fans.
Kick-off has been delayed until 1:15am BST - not great news for Liverpool fans in the UK who have an early morning tomorrow, but we'll keep you up to date with all the action as it unfolds.
Team news
Sporting XI: Renan, Ilori, Luis Neto, Mathieu, Borja, Doumbia, Wendel, Raphinha, Bruno Fernandes, Vietto, Luiz Phellype
Van den Berg is here!
Sepp van den Berg has finally been granted clearance by Fifa to play, and is among Klopp's substitutes.
Team news
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Origi
Subs: Lonergan, Atherton, Lovren, Gomez, Lallana, Brewster, Kent, Lewis Phillips, Jones, Hoever, Duncan, Woodburb, Wilson, Van den Berg
Liverpool still awaiting clearance for van den Berg
Liverpool are still waiting to hear whether Sepp van den Berg will be available to make his debut against Sporting Lisbon.
The Dutchman has yet to feature for the Reds since sealing a £1.3million move from Eredivisie outfit PEC Zwolle in late June.
A wait on international clearance from Fifa caused Van den Berg to miss friendly games against Tranmere, Bradford, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla.
And it is still unclear whether he will be able to take to the field when Jurgen Klopp’s team take on Sporting in New York on Wednesday.
Club officials have been in constant contact with both the FA and Fifa but are still awaiting clearance on the paperwork relating to Van den Berg’s move to Anfield.
Klopp 'gutted' for injured Clyne
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits he is "gutted" for Nathaniel Clyne after the Reds defender was ruled out for six months with a cruciate ligament injury.
The 28-year-old sustained the injury in the final moments of the Reds’ first game of their United States tour - a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in South Bend, Indiana.
While Klopp acknowledged the severity of the injury and poor timing with the new season just weeks away, the German coach appreciates it could have been a lot worse.
“What can I say other than how gutted we all are for Clyney," he said. "He was training and playing so well - he was in outstanding shape.
“Clearly an injury of this nature isn’t a happy moment for any player, but the silver lining for him is that, according to the medical guys, it’s a straightforward ACL injury. This means fixing it and coming back from it should follow a path that is free from pitfalls and complications.
“At the moment there isn’t much more to say beyond we’ll all support Clyney in whatever way we can and we look forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as responsibly possible.
“He is such a sound professional and is naturally very fit and strong, so all these things are in his favour.”
Klopp: Liverpool still looking for deals
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Liverpool are still on the lookout for potential reinforcements this summer.
But the German insists he is content to go into the new season with the squad he currently has at his disposal if the right players cannot be found.
Despite record revenues and their status as European champions, the Reds have made just one signing during the current transfer window - the £1.3million acquisition of teenager defender Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle.
Klopp admits that he and Liverpool's recruitment staff are still looking to add, with a defender capable of providing back-up to Andy Robertson believed to be among their targets.
However, the manager has no interest in making signings that do not represent an improvement on what he already has.
“We are still looking, but it will not be the [biggest] transfer window of LFC,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “It just will be a transfer window.
“We will see what we do, and if we haven't done anything by the end it will be for different reasons.
"It's about using this team. In the transfer window, you have to build a team that you think you want to go into the season with. But I have that team already.
“If we can bring somebody else in that makes it even better, we will see. But if not, this team is already there. And again we will have to find solutions at different moments.
“We have to find solutions during the season. Yes, you find sometimes the solution in the transfer market and we have done that. I don't have to name the players, everybody knows.
“But otherwise you have to find the solutions on the training ground and that's what we do now.”
Good evening and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Sporting Lisbon.
The Reds have lost the opening two matches of their US tour and are looking to address that at the Yankee Stadium tonight.
Stay put for all your team news and build-up.