HONG KONG — Juergen Klopp sidestepped questions about his club's continued frustrations in their attempts to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig, after Liverpool handed Crystal Palace a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League Asia Trophy on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool are believed to have had a 66 million pound bid for the Guinea international midfielder turned down by the German side, but Klopp refused to be drawn on reports that his pursuit of Keita is being blocked.

"Sixty-six million turned down today?" Klopp said to reporters. "Are we in Vegas or what? I don't speak about this. Are we in Macau?"

Leipzig owner Dietrich Mateschitz was quoted in the German media claiming his club had refused the bid for the 22-year-old and that Keita is not for sale after impressing for the Bundesliga runners-up last season.

Klopp was able to run the rule over his new signings against Palace, with Dominic Solanke scoring his side's first for the club since joining from Chelsea in a deal worth 3 million pounds. Solanke signed for Liverpool after struggling to break into the Chelsea first team squad.

He moved to Merseyside after being part of the England team that won the FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea in June. "If a good player is there and you can have him and he costs a little bit but you have to pay it, then that's how it is," said Klopp of the 19-year-old.

"It's a smart move for him and for us. He saw an opportunity at Liverpool and we see it also, and having him around we can see he's a smart player, a really skilled boy and I'm really happy about that.

"You need a little bit of luck and to score in a game like this. He will stay patient, 100 percent and we will help him all we can, and then hopefully in the end everything will be good."

Divock Origi scored Liverpool's second as Klopp's team set up a meeting with Leicester City in the final of the pre-season tournament on Saturday while another new signing, Mohamed Salah, impressed with his pace and direct running.

"It was good," said Klopp of Salah. "It's nice for everybody to see him on the pitch with the speed, not only with the speed but also with the ball. "I don't like to talk about individuals and we played as a team today really good. Mo is a very quick player. I was really happy."

Rodriguez strike

earns Pulis praise

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis hailed new signing Jay Rodriguez after the former England international marked his first appearance for his new club with a goal against Leicester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy on Wednesday evening.

Rodriguez joined Pulis' side last month for 12 million pounds after an injury-blighted three years that saw him drift to the periphery of the Southampton team and lose his place in the England squad.

But the 27-year-old showed glimpses of his old form at Hong Kong Stadium and put West Brom in the lead in the ninth minute with a fine strike from outside the area that gave Leicester goalkeeper Ben Hamer little chance.

"Jay's strike was fantastic," said Pulis. "The lad was a very, very good player and he had a couple of injuries that set him back and he's not really got himself in a position to have a run of games. We're hoping we can get him back and get him fit. He's a natural goal scorer that was spectacular today, but usually he will score inside the box and that's what we need."

Unsettled winger Riyad Mahrez, who asked to leave the club at the end of last season, leveled for a Leicester City side that went on to win the game in a penalty shootout.

Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare confirmed the club had still not received any bids for the Algeria international. "The situation hasn't changed," said Shakespeare.

"I know what Riyad Mahrez can do, we all know that. We know the situation and we've got to deal with it. Riyad has been very professional since his return and I expect that to continue." — Reuters