Brondby 2 Liverpool 1 match report: Liverpool get post-Luis Suarez era off to a shock loss as last-minute Ferhan Hasani sinks Reds in opening pre-season match

Liverpool manager not looking for a 'direct replacement' for £75m Barcelona man despite losing opening match of 2014-15 season

Tom Sheen
Thursday 17 July 2014 11:47 BST
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he is not looking for a direct replacement for Luis Suarez
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he is not looking for a direct replacement for Luis Suarez

Brendan Rodgers said he was not looking for a direct replacement for departed £75m striker Luis Suarez after Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brondby in their opening match of pre-season in Copenhagen.

Rodgers named a largely second-string side with Daniel Agger, Philippe Coutinho and Lucas the only first team regulars to start and the trio only played a half each, with Jon Flanagan, Martin Skrtel and Joe Allen replacing them for the second half.

Agger captained the side against his former club.

The Liverpool manager admitted the club would miss Suarez's goals next season but he is hopeful of more new signings following the arrivals of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic.

"We’re working hard behind the scenes to get the best players, not a direct replacement but who can add things to our game again," said Rodgers. "You cannot replace any player like for like but there will be other qualities in other players. We will continue to progress.

"Luis going doesn’t lessen our ambitions – we want to continually improve. He’s a wonderful player but we will move on," he added. "He has moved on and I will concentrate on the players we have and who have won many games without him playing."

Liverpool teenager Kristoffer Peterson celebrates after equalising

Liverpool went a goal down after Christian Norgaard finished beyond Brad Jones, Swedish teenager Kristoffer Peterson then levelled for the Reds, but Liverpool lost it late on when Ferhan Hasani scored on the break.

Additional reporting from PA

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