Dossena's Brave Return Highlights Liverpool vs Como Friendly

At the AXA Training Centre, a pre-season run-out between Liverpool and Como produced no goals but one unforgettable image.

Across 70 goalless minutes, Liverpool named a strong XI, with Alexis Mac Allister pulling strings in midfield, Federico Chiesa offering threat in attack and Kostas Tsimikas patrolling the left. It looked, for long spells, like a controlled training exercise between two well-drilled sides.

Then came the moment that jolted everyone.

Como defender Dossena rose for an aerial challenge involving James McConnell and Will Wright, only to land awkwardly on his hand. He stayed down immediately. Cameras zoomed in. The close-up revealed a severely dislocated finger, twisted at an angle that made LFCTV commentators quickly apologise to viewers watching at home.

It was gruesome. It was also the turning point in the tone of the afternoon.

Medical staff from Como rushed on, working quickly to stabilise the injury and bandage the finger. For a few minutes, the match felt secondary, players from both teams watching on as treatment continued.

Most would have expected Dossena’s day to be over.

Instead, the 27-year-old got back to his feet, tape wrapped tight around his damaged hand, and insisted on returning to the pitch. He played on for the final six minutes of the shortened contest, throwing himself into challenges and holding the line as Como protected their clean sheet.

No goals. No grand pre-season drama on the scoreboard.

But in an unusual friendly that faded without a breakthrough, it was Dossena’s refusal to walk away that lingered longest as the players left the AXA surface and turned their attention to the season ahead.