Liverpool have recorded a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in Wednesday's fixture in the International Champions Cup.
After a goalless first half, Leroy Sane put City ahead with a confident finish from eight yards, only for Mohamed Salah to equalise for Liverpool just seconds after his introduction.
Liverpool had the better of the closing stages and Sadio Mane netted from the spot in the fifth minute of added-on time after Dominic Solanke had been fouled inside of the area.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in New Jersey courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the International Champions Cup fixture between Liverpool and Manchester City. Both clubs are currently regarded as the most likely contenders for next season's Premier League title, but who will prevail in the contest in New Jersey?
This match represents the second of each club's International Champions Cup campaign. Both teams have already succumbed to Borussia Dortmund, with City losing 1-0 last Friday and Liverpool suffering a 3-1 defeat two days later.
It means that only a win will do for either side if they want to maintain their hopes of being crowned winners of the 18-team tournament. Over the weekend, both teams complete their run of fixtures with Liverpool facing Manchester United and City meeting Bayern Munich.
Anyway, without further ado, let's see how each team lines up this evening, beginning with Liverpool...
LIVERPOOL XI: Karius; Clyne, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum; Jones, Lallana, Sturridge
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Mahrez, Denayer, Zinchenko, Harrison, Nmecha, Foden, Garcia, Diaz, Bolton, Humphreys
Let's start by taking a look at the Liverpool starting lineup. Well, it is a case of who has missed out with Naby Keita not featuring in the squad as a precaution due to a sore neck. There is also no starting role for Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah, but we expect to see both players in the second half.
However, summer signing Fabinho is included in the centre of midfield alongside James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum, with Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge looking to build up their match fitness in attack. The England internationals are joined by youngster Curtis Jones.
At the back, Loris Karius keeps his place between the sticks with Alisson and Simon Mignolet unavailable after the World Cup, while there are starts for Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez in defence.
As for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola's choices in terms of his first-team squad are limited and only Riyad Mahrez will fancy his chances of featuring in the starting lineup for City's Premier League opener with Arsenal.
Claudio Bravo gets the nod in goal while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Phil Foden are the only other players who really find themselves in the plans of Guardiola. Jason Denayer offers experience in defence but the Belgian is expected to leave City before the end of the summer window.
There are plenty of youngsters who will relish the big stage, however, with former NYCFC player Jack Harrison getting his chance to impress as chief support for Lukas Nmecha in attack. Brahim Diaz will also be aware that he may not get many more chances to make an impact before Guardiola decides where the playmaker will spend the upcoming season.
LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Kelleher, Mane, Salah, Grujic, Klavan, Moreno, Solanke, Phillips, Ojo, Woodburn, Camacho, Chirivella, Grabara
MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Hart, Sane, Bernardo, Adarabioyo, Roberts, Muric, Touaizi, Pozo, Dele-Bashiru, Garre, Gomes, Bernabe, Matondo, Wilson, Ogbeta
Liverpool head into this fixture having already played five times during pre-season. Want to catch up on all of their results? You can do so by clicking here.
Up until the final 24 minutes against Dortmund, it had all been going swimmingly. Three wins and a draw had been recorded against lesser opposition but conceding three goals in the final quarter against the German side is sure to have angered Klopp.
During that match, Klopp made as many as eight changes at half time, which is slightly unusual when you take into consideration that Liverpool have been so active since the start of July. You would expect Klopp to give many of his first-teamers at least an hour in this contest with just two friendlies to follow this one.
Xherdan Shaqiri has made the trip to the United States and is expected to get some game time before the journey back to England. There had been half a chance that the Switzerland international would play a part this evening but his debut will have to wait until the weekend.
It means that Lallana has an opportunity to get into Klopp's good books. The attacking midfielder missed the World Cup through injury and having featured on just 13 occasions last season, but there is little doubting that the Englishman has a major role to play when he is fit.
Let's turn our attention to Manchester City, who are taking part in just their second friendly of pre-season. Unlike Liverpool, Pep Guardiola has opted against fewer fixtures ahead of the new Premier League season with a large quantity of players having spent the month playing at the World Cup.
In total, there are only eight players who are likely to feature in Guardiola's plans next season, but that will not discourage the younger crop to make an impression in the United States, especially given the quality of opposition.
You may have noticed the name 'Gomes' on the Manchester City bench. Don't be worry if you are not familiar with him because Claudio Gomes did not officially join City until earlier today! Click here to read the full story.
Not a bad setting, is it?
The stage is set! #mancity pic.twitter.com/qk91UNzCCD — Manchester City (@ManCity) July 25, 2018
However, the conditions are not ideal. As you can probably make out from the image, the pitch is not the best and it is only expected to play worse given the rain that has been pouring down in the last hour or so.
These two teams faced each other on four occasions last season with a total of 18 goals being scored. That is an average of 4.5 strikes per game. It would be a bit too much to ask for more of the same tonight, wouldn't it...?
PREDICTION! Liverpool are further through their pre-season campaign and have less players missing due to the World Cup. On that basis, we are going to go for a 3-1 victory for the Merseyside giants.
Salah has not made an appearance in a Liverpool shirt - nor looked fit - since sustaining a shoulder injury in the Champions League final, but the Egyptian looked in good spirits when making his way out for the warm-up earlier.
👋 @MoSalah 👋#LFCPreSeason #ICC2018 pic.twitter.com/sIdlh8L1sA — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 25, 2018
Not so long ago, Klopp suggested that Salah may not play a huge chunk of this game but that Mane is in line to be introduced at half time. The German also says that we should expect "a few changes".
We are nearly all set to go on the West coast of the United States. That said, these matches do not always start exactly on time and we are yet to see any players emerging from the tunnel.
Ahhh here they come! I'm pleasantly surprised. The Met Life Stadium is certainly not full right now but maybe some fans are still in the concourse areas due to the weather.
A reminder of the two starting lineups...
LIVERPOOL XI: Karius; Clyne, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum; Jones, Lallana, Sturridge
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Mahrez, Denayer, Zinchenko, Harrison, Nmecha, Foden, Garcia, Diaz, Bolton, Humphreys
KICKOFF: Â City get us underway!
Neither side is messing about when they get their foot on the ball. Passes are being sprayed about at a brisk pace. The only opening so far is an over-hit cross from Clyne.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Liverpool are already dominating possession. City are not necessarily dropping deep, but Liverpool look intent on making it as difficult as they can for their inexperienced opponents.
This is encouraging from Nmecha, who physically gets the better of Van Dijk when they first come together. However, City cannot keep the ball and Liverpool regain control.
We have gone through the opening nine minutes of this game without seeing a shot on goal but it has been an entertaining start. City have come into the match over the past couple of minutes.
Clyne almost engineers an opening for himself after controlling a high ball, but the right-back attempted to do too much on the edge of the area and was ultimately dispossessed.
CHANCE! Â City should be ahead. Mahrez does well in the middle before threading a pass through to Nmecha, who holds off the attention of Gomez. However, his resulting shot from 14 yards is well blocked by Karius before the rebound is deflected over.
The Premier League champions have nullified any threat coming from Liverpool and are now starting to boss this encounter. Mahrez and Harrison are getting on the ball in threatening positions and so far, Liverpool are unsure how to deal with the pair.
City are pressing the Liverpool defence really well and it is resulting in mistakes being made. Klopp does not look happy on the touchline.
SHOT! Â Liverpool youngster Jones has looked lively every time that he has got on the ball but on this occasion, the attacker's curler towards the far post is easily saved by Bravo.
This is much better from Liverpool who look like they have started to settle again. The ball was worked work to Clyne on the right flank but Harrison got back to deal with the danger.
Nmecha has looked very impressive for City. His pace and physicality is causing all kinds of problems for Gomez. Based on this performance, Guardiola may decide that it is work keeping the 19-year-old in his plans.
We have still only had the two shots on goal. It is surprisingly because the pace of the game has been similar to that of a Premier League fixture. Both teams look sharp.
Guardiola will undoubtedly be most pleased out of the two managers. A number of his youngsters are not playing in their first-choice positions but they are showing an openness to adapt to Guardiola's 3-5-2 system.
SHOT! Â Karius is decisive when coming for a high ball and punches it outside of the box. However, it goes straight to Harrison, who cannot get too much power behind his low effort from 20 yards.
YELLOW CARD! Â Friendly or not, you will always get booked for challenges like this. Van Dijk cynically tips Mahrez as the Algerian threatens to run towards goal.
CHANCE! Â A corner from Milner is only half-cleared and Lallana manages to get away a poked effort from 16 yards. There's not much power on it but it almost finds its way into the bottom corner, with the ball just going wide.
SHOT! Â Jones is certainly not overawed by the occasion. The Liverpool youngster collects the ball from 20 yards and quickly gets a shot away, only to see his low strike saved by Bravo.
Liverpool are starting to come on strong as he move closer to the half-time whistle. The superior fitness and the greater game-time may be beginning to show.
Fabinho is not shy when it comes to making fouls. The referee is having words with the Brazilian but is yet to give out a yellow card.
SHOT! Â This is ambitious from Mahrez. City win a free kick around 30 yards from goal, but Mahrez shoots and sees his strike comfortably dealt with by Karius.
City find another chance to get Nmecha up against Gomez in a one-on-one but on this occasion, the Liverpool is up to the task and anticipates the youngster's use of his body.
CHANCE! Â Nearly an opener for Liverpool. Clyne's cross for Jones is inviting and the teenager gets across Humphreys to get a header on goal, only for his effort to go over from 10 yards.
That may be the last of the action for the first half. Both teams will be pleased with their work so far.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Â Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City
The half-time whistle goes at the Met Life Stadium and despite an enjoyable opening 45 minutes, we remain goalless. Both teams have had their moments, but it is Guardiola who will most likely to be more satisfied with his side's efforts.
City's best chance came during the opening quarter-of-an-hour. Mahrez laid on the perfect pass for the advancing Nmecha but the forward tried to ensure that his shot was on target rather than making a real effort to beat Karius, and it resulted in a solid block from the stopper.
Liverpool's clearest openings have come through Jones, with the youngster failing to convert a header from 10 yards out just before the break. Lallana also poked wide from a central position, but it is Jones who is Liverpool's star man.
The two teams are making their way back out. We are expecting plenty of changes so we will update you as we get underway.
KICKOFF: Â Liverpool get things started in the second half.
City have made a total of four changes, and the introductions include Joe Hart, Leroy Sane and new signing Claudio Gomes. As for Liverpool, Ragnar Klavan, Ben Woodburn and Sadio Mane are among the players who have come on.
CHANCE! Â Mane almost made an immediate impact with the winger attempting to bundle his way into the penalty area before getting his shot away. The ball went past Bravo but it lacked pace, giving a chance for the ball to be cleared.
It is all Liverpool at the start of this second half. Klopp has clearly suggested - in no uncertain terms - that he expects better than their first-half display.
Van Dijk was guilty of a crude challenge in the first half and City's Garcia has just done the same to take out Mane here. It's a chance for Liverpool to get a shot away from 20 yards.
SHOT! Â It is Van Dijk to take but the Dutchman's shot is straight at the wall...
GOAL! Â Liverpool 0-1 Manchester City (Leroy Sane)
City take the lead! It's a wonderful goal, too. Sane plays a give and go in the middle third of the pitch and when the German receives the ball, he is clear of Van Dijk. The winger has enough pace about him to remain ahead of the centre-back before firing a low shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
It's all City now. The changes have worked and they look capable of opening up Liverpool at every opportunity. Klopp needs to find a way to deal with the pace of Sane.
SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes for Liverpool but the main cheer comes for the introduction of Salah, who replaces Jones. Youngsters Phillips and Camacho have also been brought on.
GOAL! Â Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City (Mohamed Salah)
Outrageous! What an impact. All the credit goes to Camacho, however, who drills a cross into the box for Salah to head home from eight yards. The Egyptian was marginally offside but the assistant did not flag.
The crowd certainly enjoyed that goal and this game is developing into a thrilling contest. There will surely be more goals. Neither side are taking a backwards step.
CHANCE! Â How has Salah missed?! Mane does really well down the left and hooks a cross towards the back post from the byline, but Salah heads wide from around eight yards out.
OFF THE BAR! Â Another chance for Salah - City simply can't deal with him! The Egyptian beats the offside trap and only has Hart to beat but his shot strikes the crossbar and goes over.
It is Liverpool who are controlling possession for now but given the way that this match has developed, that could soon change. There are weaknesses in both sides, but that it what is making it all the more entertaining.
Mane and Salah both look well rested after the World Cup. It is obviously still early days but they look so eager to make a statement. Mane, inparticular, has been electric.
SUBSTITUTION! Mahrez is done for the evening. The Algerian has got another 75 minutes under his belt in a City shirt. It is one of many made by City over the past 15 minutes. Patrick Roberts is among those to be introduced.
Despite all of the changes, City are setting up with a solid defensive shape. It is refreshing to see because most of these players will be wanting to express themselves on the ball.
City now take their chance to get hold of the ball in the final third. The build-up is patient but it ultimately allows Liverpool to get set and see off the danger.
SHOT! Â Liverpool win a free kick on the edge of the box and Salah is quick to get his hands on the ball. However, the attacker's shot is always rising over Hart's crossbar.
Sane is keeping this young Liverpool defence on their toes. Phillips dwelt on the ball and it almost let in the winger before the defender got back to make the tackle.
Neither side is settling for a draw. Liverpool win a free kick in a deep position and the resulting set piece causes problems in the City defence, but Guardiola's men find a way to get the ball clear.
CHANCE! Â Was this Liverpool's moment? Mane is found at the back post by a cross-field ball but the winger's volley is sent wide of the far post.
It is all Liverpool and City are now making an attempt to stifle their opponents. It's good game management but there are boos from the crowd.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
Should things remain the same, we are heading for penalties. City will feel like getting to that stage is an achievement given Liverpool's onslaught.
PENALTY! Â Liverpool win a penalty! Solanke gets a barge in the back when contesting a high ball and the referee has pointed to the spot! It's a little harsh, but you can see why it was given.
GOAL! Â Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City (Sadio Mane)
Mane makes no mistake from the spot, drilling the ball to his left with Hart diving the other way. That should be that.
FULL TIME: Â Liverpool 2-1 Manchester City
The full-time whistle goes in New Jersey and Liverpool have come from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over Manchester City. Liverpool's greater experience and quality eventually proved key, but this was an entertaining contest ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can stick around for our coverage of the fixture involving Manchester United and AC Milan.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
