Match reportDarwin Nunez strikes twice as Reds beat AC Milan in Dubai

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the contest, while Milan levelled through Alexis Saelemaekers on the half-hour mark.

Liverpool, though, were in front before the half-time interval thanks to an inch-perfect finish by Thiago Alcantara from outside the area.

The returning Nunez then stepped off the bench in the second half to find the back of the net twice and seal victory in the United Arab Emirates.

Tournament rules meant a penalty shootout followed full-time, with Milan prevailing 4-3 to claim an extra point.

• Want to watch this video? Subscribe to LFCTV GO now and get a month FREE using the code GOFREE23

Team news

Nunez was named on the bench as Jürgen Klopp made one change to his line-up from his side's last outing in Dubai.

The Uruguayan was back among the substitutes after returning from World Cup duty earlier in the week.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Fabio Carvalho in the only alteration made to the XI deployed against Olympique Lyonnais.

Liverpool: Kelleher (Adrian, 59), Milner (Tsimikas, 59), Matip (Phillips, 66), Gomez (Quansah, 83), Robertson (Frauendorf, 59), Bajcetic (Corness, 78), Thiago (Keita, 59), Elliott (Clark, 78), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Carvalho, 59), Salah (Doak, 83), Firmino (Nunez, 59).

Unused subs: Davies, Cain, Chambers.

First half

Liverpool had the lead after five minutes amid their first meaningful attack of the contest.

Joel Matip surged forward and played a clever one-two with Roberto Firmino, before the centre-back's touch left Salah on his own to slide the ball into the net from close range.

The Reds continued to apply pressure with Salah going close again, while Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thiago both saw shots fall the wrong side of the post.

Milan, though, equalised thanks to Saelemaekers as he cut inside from the right to find the bottom corner of the net on 30 minutes.

Liverpool almost hit back immediately in the wake of the setback, and went within the width of the post of doing so.

Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali attempted to keep another Salah attack out, but while doing so inadvertently prodded the ball onto the woodwork inside the box.

Oxlade-Chamberlain then saw a header well saved, but Klopp's charges restored their advantage through Thiago's fine strike from outside the area.

The midfielder took a quick touch out of his feet to set himself and let fly to leave goalkeeper Antonio Mirante no chance.

Second half

Following the change of ends, Liverpool controlled possession though failed to properly threaten the Milan net.

The Reds then opted to make six changes on the hour mark, which included a return to club action for Nunez.

The Uruguay international made his presence felt immediately after his introduction, firing a shot goal-bound to signal early intent of what was to come.

Salah along with substitutes Carvalho and Melkamu Frauendorf all had shots blocked away by the Serie A outfit in quick succession.

Stefano Pioli's side then hit the bar in response to Liverpool's pressure, with Youns Gabriele El Hilali curling a shot onto the frame of the goal.

Nunez forced a save at the other end, before putting the game beyond doubt shortly after with Bobby Clark's well-timed pass splitting the defence.

The forward raced in on goal to sweep the ball into the back of the net, and finished off the scoring from inside the six-yard box by tapping in a Ben Doak cross from the right for his second of the night.

• Christmas sale: Save up to 30% on selected Nike and LFC label items now. T&Cs apply