Liverpool and Como Battle to a Goalless Draw in Pre-Season Friendly

A blood-and-thunder pre-season friendly at the AXA Training Centre ended without a goal but with one grimacing flashpoint that stole the headlines.

Liverpool named a heavyweight XI for the 70-minute workout, rolling out Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa and Kostas Tsimikas in a side that looked far more competitive than the usual July mix-and-match. The game itself never quite caught fire on the scoresheet, yet it delivered one of those moments that makes even hardened professionals wince.

Midway through the contest, Como defender Dossena went up to challenge for an aerial ball with James McConnell and Will Wright. He landed awkwardly, his hand taking the full force of the fall. The impact left his finger badly dislocated – so severe that a close-up television replay on LFCTV drew an immediate apology from the commentators to anyone watching at home.

It was the sort of injury that usually ends afternoons. Players turned away, the pictures told their own story, and for a few seconds the football stopped feeling like a friendly.

Dossena didn’t.

The 27-year-old received on-pitch treatment from Como’s medical staff, his finger quickly bandaged after being put back in place. Instead of disappearing down the tunnel, he turned and headed straight back towards the action.

With just six minutes left in the shortened fixture, he rejoined the back line and saw the game out, helping Como lock in a clean sheet against a Liverpool side stacked with quality. No goals, no official stakes, yet a pre-season run-out that left a lasting image: a defender, a mangled finger, and a refusal to step away.