New signing Dominic Solanke came off the bench to score as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in a preseason game in Hong Kong yesterday.
The 19-year-old suggested he could prove a summer bargain at just $4 million as he linked up well with fellow striker Divock Origi, who also got on the scoresheet in the Premier League Asia Trophy win.
“It’s been a smart move for him and for us,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said of Solanke’s transfer from Chelsea.
“He saw the opportunity and we could see it also. You could see immediately he is a smart player. He’s a skilled boy and we are happy about this. We will help him all we can.”
Origi set up the first goal for Liverpool on the hour mark with a clever back-heel that found Solanke unmarked and the teenager made no mistake, finishing coolly in the stifling Hong Kong heat.
Origi then rifled home Liverpool’s second in the 79th minute, to the delight of a crowd of 40,000.
Klopp’s new-look front line proved a welcome distraction for the German coach following reports that Leipzig had rejected a huge bid of $86 million for star midfielder Naby Keita.
Klopp bristled when asked about the Keita situation as rumours circled that the Guinea international’s agent had been spotted in Hong Kong.
“Are we in Macau?” asked Klopp in reference to the world’s largest gambling hub, situated just across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong.
“What do you know? Sixty-six million (pounds) turned down today? I don’t think about this.
“Today both teams played good football,” added Klopp, turning his attention back to events on the pitch.
“In the second half we made some changes and we scored — nice. We changed the formation and it was nice to watch.”

Liverpool’s 75mn euros Keita bid rejected
Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has confirmed RB Leipzig have rejected an offer of 75 million euros (£66mn, $86.4mn) for Liverpool-target Naby Keita and insists the Guinea midfielder is not for sale.
On their first season in Germany’s top flight, RB Leipzig finished second to Bayern Munich in 2016/17 and have qualified directly for the Champions League, but are eager to keep their playmaker Keita.
The 22-year-old has three years left on his Leipzig contract, although Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp is eager to lure him to Merseyside.
However Mateschitz, 73, the co-founder of energy drinks firm Red Bull, which backs RB Leipzig, says the defensive midfielder is not for sale.
“We were flattered when an offer of 75 million euros offer for Naby Keita recently landed at our door. No way! He still has a contract and he will fulfil it,” Mateschitz told magazine Sport Bild.
Mateschitz says selling Keita would send the wrong message to RB’s other stars.
RB Leipzig’s Germany striker Timo Werner has been linked to Real Madrid, while Swedish midfielder Emil Forsberg is reportedly being chased by Liverpool and Arsenal.
“To sell him (Keita) would not only be a sign of distrust for our fans, but would also send out the wrong signal to our other players, such as Timo Werner, who are also in demand,” added Mateschitz.
Leipzig will not sell talented players to boost their coffers.
“We are not, and will never be, Manchester City,” added Mateschitz.
“I have not only the responsibility for the fans from Leipzig but also for the path which we have taken so far.
“We’ll do it our way or not at all.”



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