Brendan Rodgers’ side continued their fine form on their US tour as the Serie A outfit were defeated for the third successive match

Liverpool ensured they headed into the final of the International Champions Cup final on the back of a victory as goals from Joe Allen and Suso secured a straightforward win over AC Milan.

Brendan Rodgers’ side earned their victory despite Rickie Lambert missing a penalty in Charlotte as they scored in either half to seal the result.

It saw Filippo Inzaghi’s side finish the pre-season tournament without a point, while Liverpool were already assured of a place in Monday’s final against Manchester United.

A weakened Liverpool controlled possession in the opening exchanges as Milan kept numbers behind the ball.

The pressing of Rodgers’ men would lead to the opening goal for Allen in the 17th minute.

Allen dispossessed Michael Essien before driving into the area and striking the post with his shot. Raheem Sterling’s effort from the rebound was palmed away by Christian Abbiati, but Allen was on hand to tuck away a finish to make it 1-0.

The Premier League side had a chance to double their advantage in the 28th minute.

Sterling was brought down in the area and Lambert, who scored 34 straight penalties at Southampton, saw a poor spot-kick saved by Abbiati to the goalkeeper’s left.

Milan settled into the encounter after the penalty save, but were unable to create clear-cut chances.

Inzaghi’s men were much-improved early in the second half before the likes of Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can were introduced by Rodgers on the hour-mark.

Milan goalkeeper Gabriel and defender Mattia De Sciglio were involved in a heavy collision during the second half, leading to the latter’s substitution.

Neither team looked particularly threatening in the final stages before Suso‘s curling finish in the 90th minute.

Coutinho found space down the left before poking a pass to the Spaniard, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards.

While Liverpool prepare for the final, Milan head to Texas to face Chivas looking to find some form.

The Rossoneri have failed to impress in pre-season so far but the club’s new coach is not looking for immediate results as Serie A begins to loom closer to kick off

AC Milan head coach Filippo Inzaghi insists his team will be ready for action by late August after a stuttering start to pre-season.

The Rossoneri lost 3-0 to Olympiakos in their International Champions Cup opener before being thrashed 5-1 by English champions Manchester City, casting a shadow over the new boss’ reign at San Siro following the replacement of Clarence Seedorf.

“We’re working to make a good impression in the summer friendlies, but to be ready in late August,” Inzaghi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I am sure that we will succeed.”

Milan face Liverpool this weekend in their final game in North America in a repeat of the 2007 Champions League final and the fixture brings fond memories for the 40-year-old, who netted two goals in the 2-1 triumph seven years ago.

“Each time I think back to that game I get excited,” he added. “It will always remain my best memory.

“My wish is to try to return again to those emotions of that win. The second goal that won it was amazing. Then the ride on the bus amongst the delirium of the fans was too.”

Inzaghi’s men kick off their clash with Liverpool at 00:30CET on Sunday.

The Liverpool captain has revealed he would have been disappointed if Luis Suarez joined the Gunners last summer as his talent was only worthy of a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona

Arsene Wenger has hit back at Steven Gerrard’s claims that Luis Suarez was “too good for Arsenal”.

The Gunners bid twice for the striker last summer in the belief that an offer of over €50 million would trigger a release clause, a contractual agreement that Liverpool denied at the time but since admitted did exist.

Gerrard admitted he would have been “disappointed” to see the Uruguayan join the Gunners and feels the striker was wrongly advised amid the interest from the north London side.

Wenger acknowledges that Gerrard was just keen for Suarez, who has since joined Barcelona in a €88m deal, to stay at Anfield but dismissed the initial remarks as unnecessary.

“You’re never too good for Arsenal and Steven Gerrard knows that,” he told reporters.

“But I can understand completely that he asked him to stay because he wanted [Suarez] to play with him and have a chance to win the Premier League. But it didn’t happen, and anyway, Suarez left.”