Liverpool overturned a deficit to defeat Yokohama F Marinos 3-1 in an international club friendly on Wednesday, securing a win in the English Premier League champions' first match in Japan in two decades.
The number of fans wearing red surpassed those in blue, the color of the host team, at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, where Japan's captain and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is from, as a full audience of 67,032 attended the Reds' first visit to the country since the 2005 Club World Championship.
Before the game, supporters assembled at a corner outside the venue to pen goodbye messages for Liverpool player Diogo Jota, who passed away alongside his younger brother in a car accident on July 3 in northwestern Spain.
"I was completely stunned when I received the news," said 21-year-old Genki Urata, a fan of both Liverpool and his local team Marinos, who was wearing a Jota No. 20 jersey he purchased two years ago.
I truly hope they return next year, but I'm also considering visiting Anfield. Today, naturally, I'm backing Liverpool.
Ian Rush, Liverpool's all-time leading goal scorer, paid homage to Jota before the match began, with supporters then chanting for the former Portuguese forward.
Liverpool's attacker Jun Amano drew immediate attention with a volley that missed the mark, followed by a clever move past Ryan Graveberch in the center of the field, while Cody Gakpo struck a low shot that hit the right-hand post in the ninth minute.
Fans once more showed tribute to Jota by clapping in the 20th minute, recognizing his jersey number.
Liverpool's new player Hugo Ekitike had a backheel saved, while the best opportunity of the first half came to J1 team Marinos. Marinos, one of only two clubs that have never been relegated since the J-League began in 1993—alongside Kashima Antlers—is facing the risk of relegation this season.
A two-player counterattack in the 40th minute resulted in Yan Matheus' lofted cross reaching Dean David, who headed it with a low strike that forced goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to make a diving save.
Asahi Uenaka and Darwin Nunez failed to capitalize on opportunities at both ends during the early stages of the second half, until the Marinos forward scored in the 55th minute, striking the ball low past the post following a great pass from Riku Yamane.
Endo came on at the hour mark to substitute Virgil van Dijk, wearing the captain's armband, and Liverpool equalized two minutes later when Curtis Jones initiated a counterattack and made a slight touch following Mohamed Salah's pass, enabling the major summer acquisition Florian Wirtz to find the net.
Trey Nyoni scored for Liverpool in the 68th minute by extending his leg to connect with Jeremie Frimpong's cross toward the far post, while a header from Endo in the 77th minute was followed by Japanese supporters chanting for Liverpool.
A 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha completed the victory in the 87th minute by sprinting across the opponent's half and scoring a low shot, showcasing his ability on the left wing after Luis Diaz's exit.
