It was the Japanese outfit who struck first through Asahi Uenaka, whose composed finish – set up by Ren Kato – caught the Reds off guard and momentarily threatened an upset.
But Liverpool quickly found their rhythm in the second half. Curtis Jones won the ball high up the pitch, triggering a rapid counterattack. Mohamed Salah smartly fed Wirtz, who calmly slotted the ball home to level the score and mark his debut goal in red.
Wirtz’s strike gave Liverpool the spark they needed. Minutes later, 16-year-old Trey Nyoni made the most of Jeremie Frimpong’s assist to fire home the go-ahead goal – his first for the senior side.
The comeback was sealed in style by another teenage talent, Rio Ngumoah, who dazzled in the final moments with a solo run and powerful finish from the edge of the area. It was a memorable cameo from the youngster, making a strong case for more first-team involvement.
Hugo Ekitike made his first appearance for Liverpool and showed flashes of potential with some neat link-up play alongside Salah and Cody Gakpo. However, he couldn’t find the net despite multiple chances, including a creative backheel effort that was denied by goalkeeper Park Il-gyu.
Cody Gakpo rattled the post early on and missed a one-on-one later, while Darwin Nunez, who replaced Ekitike at halftime, also failed to convert from close range.
Despite the missed opportunities, it was a promising finish to pre-season for Liverpool -highlighted by fresh signings and rising stars stepping up.