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• Hodgson fields strong team, including Steven Gerrard
• Birmingham draw 2-2 at Northampton Town

Joe Cole’s debut ended in defeat yesterday, when Liverpool went down 1-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Roy Hodgson fielded a strong side, including England’s World Cup captain Steven Gerrard as well as Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson, while Fabio Aurelio was named on the bench after re-signing for the club today.

Möchengladbach had arranged the match at Borussia-Park as part of their 110th anniversary celebrations, and they made a breakthrough through Karim Matmour in the eighth minute. The Algerian took advantage of some poor play by Daniel Ayala inside the area and the defender was duly punished as Matmour produced a powerful finish.

Matmour came close to doubling his side’s lead, with Liverpool having to wait until the 56th minute for their first real chance, when Cole’s low drive was parried, although the former Chelsea player was withdrawn nine minutes later. Borussia continued to threaten and although Liverpool’s David Amoo headed narrowly wide, Mönchengladbach deserved their win.

A late goal by Liam Davis earned Northampton a 2-2 draw with a Birmingham City XI at Sixfields. The Premier League side also fielded a strong line-up, including James McFadden, Cameron Jerome and Lee Bowyer. However, it was the home side who went ahead, when Billy McKay held off Liam Ridgewell to poke the ball past the goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

Blues levelled five minutes after half-time with as shot from Jerome and McFadden put Alex McLeish’s side ahead with 20 minutes left. Davis had the last word, however, scoring the equaliser with five minutes left. Chester had an emphatic win as they beat a Wigan Athletic XI 4-0 at the Deva Stadium.

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• Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 Liverpool
• Emirates Cup: AC Milan 1-1 Lyon

Joe Cole’s debut for Liverpool ended in defeat as the Reds lost 1-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Roy Hodgson fielded a strong side including England’s World Cup captain Steven Gerrard as well as Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson, while Fábio Aurélio was named on the bench after re-signing for the club yesterday.

Mönchengladbach had arranged the match as part of their 110th anniversary celebrations at Borussia Park and the hosts made an early breakthrough through Karim Matmour in the eighth minute. The Algerian took advantage of some poor play by Daniel Ayala inside the area and the 19-year-old defender was duly punished as Matmour produced a powerful finish.

Matmour was proving a real irritant for the Anfield club and came close to doubling his side’s lead.

Liverpool had to wait until the 56th minute for their first real chance when Cole’s low drive was parried, with the former Chelsea player withdrawn nine minutes later.

The hosts continued to threaten and, although David Amoo headed narrowly wide, Mönchengladbach fully deserved their victory.

Jimmy Briand scored a late equaliser as Lyon denied AC Milan a smash-and-grab victory in their second and final Emirates Cup match today. Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists completely dominated against the seven-times European Cup winners but were made to pay for a host of missed chances when Marco Borriello put Milan ahead 10 minutes after half-time.

Lyon piled on the pressure and were eventually rewarded in the final 10 minutes when the summer signing Briand headed home Miralem Pjanic’s right-wing cross at the far post. The result was both sides’ second draw of the weekend but Lyon finished a point better off than their opponents on five points in a competition in which goals also equal points.

Pjanic struck the post as Lyon missed several early chances, while Simone Verdi also had two good opportunities for Milan. Marco Amelia denied Briand with a sprawling save and Pjanic finished weakly before the break, after which Alexander Merkel saw a header tipped over.

A brilliant Clarence Seedorf ball over the top set up Milan’s goal, Hugo Lloris saving from Borriello but the ball going straight to Merkel, who squared for his team-mate to bundle home. Pjanic and Briand missed more good opportunities and the latter had a penalty shout turned down before Maxime Gonalons hit the bar when the goal was at his mercy.

Lyon’s persistence was finally rewarded and Briand also missed a great chance to snatch what would have been a deserved victory.

A goal eight minutes from time by Ian Harte gave Carlisle victory over Hibernian in a low-key game at Brunton Park.

Harte headed home a James Berrett corner after losing his marker to earn a deserved win for the League One side, who also came close through Craig Curran.

Hibs had a goal disallowed for an apparent offside in the first half but they produced little in attack after the break bar an attempt by Anthony Stokes which the goalkeeper Adam Collin saved with his leg.

A late goal by Liam Davis earned Northampton Town a 2-2 draw with a Birmingham City XI at Sixfields. The Premier League side fielded a strong line-up including James McFadden, Cameron Jerome and Lee Bowyer. However, it was the Cobblers who went ahead when Billy McKay held off Liam Ridgewell to poke the ball past keeper Maik Taylor.

Blues levelled five minutes after half-time before McFadden put Alex McLeish’s side ahead with a little over 20 minutes remaining. Davis, though, had the last word, scoring an equaliser with five minutes left.

Chester had an emphatic win as they beat a Wigan Athletic XI 4-0 at the Deva Stadium.

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• Liverpool manager fears burnout ahead of tough season
• FK Rabotnicki ties will be ‘unbelievably difficult’

August is still a week away and Roy Hodgson has yet to oversee his first competitive game at Anfield but, already, Liverpool’s new manager is talking darkly of burnout and “unbelievably difficult” challenges ahead.

The first arrives on Thursday in Skopje, the Macedonian capital, at the home of FK