Liverpool 0-1 Roma: Reds lose late on to Italian giants through Daniel Agger's own goal in front of packed Fenway Park

Liverpool were left sweating after Fabio Borini sustained a shoulder injury that has threatened to scupper his prospects of a move from Anfield.
The Italy striker, who has been the subject of an accepted £14million bid from Sunderland, was hurt in the ninth minute of Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Roma at Fenway Park following a collision with Seydou Keita and immediately received treatment on the touchline.
Borini tried to continue but, moments later, he gestured to the bench that he could no longer continue and was forced to make a slow trudge around the pitch accompanied by one of Liverpool’s medical staff, ensuring that he did not allow his right arm to leave his side.

Game won: Former West Ham man Marco Borriello celebrates, but it was Daniel Agger with the last touch

Full-blooded: Francesco Totti (right) goes in hard on Lucas Leiva in the first-half

Wing play: New signing Rickie Lambert floats the ball in from the left for Liverpool

Though Borini was Brendan Rodgers’ first signing two years ago, his time at Anfield has been inauspicious and he spent the last 12 months on loan at the Stadium of Light; Rodgers has refused to give him any assurances about what might happen next season since he returned.

Match facts

Liverpool: Jones, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Enrique, Lucas, Allen, Coutinho, Borini, Lambert, Ibe
Subs: Ward, Agger, Henderson, Can, Suso, Coady, Phillips, Robinson, Peterson
Roma: Skorupski, Somma, Benatia, Castan, Cole, Florenzi, Keita, Nainggolan, Iturbe, Totti, Ljajic

The situation, however, has taken a cruel twist. Borini will undergo further medical tests to ascertain the full extent of the damage and he knows from experience how damaging these problems can be as he dislocated his left shoulder in February 2013 and spent eight weeks out of action.
That, undoubtedly, was the major disappointment for Rodgers, whose team stepped up on their opening friendly performances against Brondby and Preston with a more accomplished workout against the classy Romans, for whom Ashley Cole was made his debut.
It was a tight game, one that looked destined to be decided by a penalty shootout but in the dying moments, substitute Marco Barriello’s header took a deflection off Jack Robinson, wrong-footing Liverpool keeper Brad Jones and securing the win for Roma.

Eye on the ball: Jordan Ibe attempts to get the ball under control in front of the Green Monster scoreboard

Novelty: Fans in the stands at Fenway Park were in good voice despite a lacklustre opening

Cole, as you would expect, cruised through this contest for the time he was on and while he was booed by a small pocket of Liverpool fans, he was involved in the best scoring chance of what was sterile first 45 minutes.
With the pitch hard and the temperature high, neither team was in a hurry to press and press as they would normally but in the 33rd minute, Cole scampered down the left-flank to catch Radja Nainggolan’s pass and, typically, he produced a perfect cutback.
Unfortuantely for Cole, Francesco Totti, the veteran striker, slightly mistimed his run and he only succeeded in making a connection with his knee, sending the ball fizzing past the wrong side of Brad Jones’ right-hand post.

Marshaled: Jordon Ibe competes with former Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole

Something new: New recruit Emre Can is tacklied by Rodja Nainggolan

Liverpool had offered little in the opening half, other than shot from outside the area that Philippe Coutinho dragged wide but, after the break, they were a different proposition and dominated the game in terms of chances created and possession.
Coutinho, a surprising omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad, was the reason Liverpool were able to wrestle back the initiative, his dancing feet and elusive movement carrying him beyond challenges and into the areas that matter.
Blessed with energy and vision, Coutinho has all the attributes needed to flourish in the Barclays Premier League and with Luis Suarez now gone, the stage could be set for Coutinho to step up a level and become a star in his own right.
He created Liverpool’s best chance in the second period when he slipped a ball into Rickie Lambert’s feet but the England striker’s powerful shot after 56 minutes was beaten away by Roma keeper Lukasz Skorupski.

Injury concern: Fabio Borini holds his shoulder and receives treatment after falling awkwardly

Trouble: The injury could come as a blow to Liverpool's attempts to sell Borini to Sunderland

A raft of substitutions from both sides disrupted the flow of the contest from then – Coutinho was given a standing ovation when his time was up – on but the injury to Borini aside, Rodgers had reason to be satisfied, not least when he thinks back to his last visit to Fenway Park two years ago.
Roma were the opposition back then and they ran out comfortable 2-1 winners, illustrating that Rodgers had a significant amount of work to do to implement his vision and get Liverpool, who had just finished eighth, in a position to challenge again.
Borriello’s header ensured another defeat at this famous old stadium but Rodgers has confidence that Liverpool will again be a match for the best around and, with another three weeks to hone their game, they should be in shape for when it matters on August 17 against Southampton.

Head up: Martin Kelly (left) gets in front of Roma's Adem Ljajic in the first-half

Attack: Defender Jose Enrique escapes two Roma players as he ventures down the wing

Colour: Fenway Park was a sea of red as Liverpool fans piled in to the baseball stadium to see their side

Shielded: AS Roma's Radja Nainggolan (left) keeps the ball from Philippe Continho

Line up: Liverpool's starting XI for the friendly against Roma in Boston

Preparation: Liverpool players warm up prior to the friendly at Fenway Park in Boston