Question marks hang over Fabio Borini’s proposed move to Sunderland after the striker picked up a shoulder injury in Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Roma at Fenway Park.

Borini was involved in a collision with Seydou Keita in the ninth minute of the friendly in Boston and was unable to continue, despite initial attempts to play on.

The 23-year-old, who was replaced by new £10m midfield signing from Bayer Leverkusen, Emre Can, will now undergo tests to assess the extent of the damage, but the injury has cast doubt over a proposed £14m summer move to the Stadium of Light.

The match at the home of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox was a tepid affair, with chances at either end limited until Marco Borriello volleyed home from a corner as time ran out.

For the second time in three years, Fenway Park was transformed into a second home for Brendan Rodgers’ team, with the majority of the crowd clad in red. Liverpool owner John Henry is the controlling partner of the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Red Sox while Serie A club Roma also has American connections and is owned by Boston Celtics minority owner Jim Pallotta.

Roma beat Liverpool 2-1 at Fenway two years ago. "It's the second time in the last couple of years," Rodgers said. "It was a great atmosphere. The support was great. I think it was for both fantastic. For a pre-season game, it was a very, very good game."

Rodgers opted to rest a number of his best players, including captain Steven Gerrard, while giving time on the pitch to some less experienced members of his squad; 18-year-old Jordon Ibe was in the starting line-up and 16-year-old Adam Phillips came on for a late cameo. "It's going to be great for me to see our young players gain experience," Rodgers said.

Ashley Cole started at left-back for Roma and the former Chelsea player was involved in the best chance of the first half when his cross was bundled wide of the near post by Francesco Totti.

Roma goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski denied new Liverpool player Rickie Lambert from just outside the box on 57 minutes in another rare chance as Liverpool slightly edged the second half, but it was left to Borriello to have the final say.

Wednesday's game was the first of four scheduled matches in the United States for Liverpool, who now travel to Chicago, New York and Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Manchester City brushed aside MLS side Sporting Kansas 4-1 in the opening match of their North American tour with the help of fringe players Bruno Zuculini and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Argentine Zuculini got Manuel Pellegrini’s team off to the perfect start at Sporting Park in Kansas City when the 21-year-old, whose move from Racing Club is yet to be rubber-stamped, scored after just three minutes.

CJ Sapong equalised for the hosts on the half-hour mark but Dedryck Boyata headed City back ahead just before the break and the Premier League champions never looked back from that point on. Aleksandar Kolarov made it 3-1 from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining before Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho, who was only selected to go on City’s pre-season tour after impressing at a training camp in Scotland last week, wrapped up the win.

Tottenham Hotspur were also in action in North America, Andros Townsend scoring an 86th-minute winner to seal a 3-2 win over Jermain Defoe’s Toronto FC.

Erik Lamela scored twice in the first half to give Spurs a two-goal cushion heading into the break at BMO Field in Toronto but goals by Andrew Wiedeman and teenager Jordan Hamilton got the hosts, skippered by former Spurs striker Defoe, back into the game.

But Townsend ensured new manager Maricio Pochettino was able to celebrate a first victory since taking over with a trademark strike from Lewis Holtby’s assist with just four minutes to go.