Liverpool Apologises After Gruesome Injury in Friendly

What was supposed to be a low-key tune-up for Liverpool’s stars turned queasy in an instant.

Before Cesc Fabregas’ Como side stepped out at Anfield for their advertised pre-season friendly, the two clubs had already gone head to head at the Reds’ Kirkby Training Centre. A short, 70‑minute game, away from the public and the noise, designed simply to top up minutes and sharpen legs.

Federico Chiesa, Alexis Mac Allister and summer arrival Victor Munoz all used the session to build rhythm. Nothing high stakes. Nothing dramatic.

Until Alberto Dossena hit the turf.

Gruesome moment on live club TV

The Como centre-back went up for an aerial challenge with James McConnell and Will Wright. He landed awkwardly, his weight crashing down on his hand. The impact was horrible.

LFCTV’s cameras, tight on the incident, captured everything. Too much, as it turned out.

Dossena stayed down. The close-up showed his finger, clearly and badly dislocated. Viewers at home saw it in all its stomach‑turning detail, prompting an immediate on-air reaction.

Lead commentator John Bradley winced through his call: “That’s a nasty landing. We might need a little stoppage here to get the medical team on. Well yes there you go, he’s dislocated his finger.”

Co-commentator Natashia Dowie could only add: “Woah that’s not nice,” before Bradley moved quickly to acknowledge just how graphic the pictures were.

“Apologies if you are just trying to have your lunch or if you’re in, who knows, San Diego having a very early breakfast. Sometimes you just see things that make you squirm.”

The broadcast cut the tension, but the images had already gone out. LFCTV later apologised for showing the incident so graphically.

On the pitch, there was a brief stoppage while medical staff rushed in. Remarkably, after treatment and a heavy bandage, the 27‑year‑old defender played on for the remaining six minutes.

Low-key contest, bright sparks

The game itself finished goalless and rarely threatened to burst into life. Clear chances were scarce, the tempo more functional than ferocious as both teams treated it as another step on the fitness ladder.

Even so, there were flickers of encouragement for Liverpool. Munoz, one of the club’s summer signings, looked lively, eager to get on the ball and drive play forward. Young midfielder Trey Nyoni also caught the eye, showing composure and energy in a match that otherwise drifted.

That quiet run-out set the stage for the main event at Anfield.

Stronger XI, debut goal

For the second fixture of the day, Andoni Iraola turned up the dial. The Liverpool manager named a stronger starting XI, handing new signing Jeremy Jacquet his first appearance of pre-season alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.

The French defender did more than just get through his minutes. After Cody Gakpo had opened the scoring for the Reds on 21 minutes, Jacquet marked his debut with a goal of his own, an ideal introduction in front of the home crowd.

On the bench, recent loan arrival Ronald Araujo waited his turn, joined by Lewis Koumas, Munoz, Nyoni, Wright and Mor Talla Ndiaye – all of whom had already put in a shift earlier at Kirkby.

Two games, one day, and a manager pushing his squad through the gears.

Iraola’s warning on intensity

Speaking before the double-header, Iraola made it clear what he wanted from these fixtures as Liverpool edge towards the new Premier League season.

“This will be a very good, and very important, test for us as we finalise our preparations for the new Premier League season,” he said, reflecting on the recent outing against Monaco. “Despite the result, last weekend’s game against Monaco brought plenty of positives and plenty of learnings for myself and my staff.

“The first half, and the first 30 minutes in particular, was very pleasing. It was good to see Alexander Isak getting on the scoresheet and looking sharp, and I saw a lot of good things both with and without the ball.

“The problem we had, as we had against Leeds in Chicago, was that we were not able to sustain our levels and that is something that can only happen with time, and with a lot of hard work on the training ground.”

That is the tightrope now. Building rhythm without breaking bodies, pushing intensity without inviting more moments like Dossena’s. Pre-season is doing its job – but it is already biting back.