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Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Match Report:
Liverpool finished their pre-season encounter against Melbourne Victory on top, ending 2-0 winners thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard and Iago Aspas.
The result was tough on the young Melbourne side though, especially for the skipper Adrian Leijer after all his hard work at the back, but it was a comfortable win for the Reds in the end thanks to a little bit of magic by none-other than Gerrard and Luis Suarez's help!
The first chance on target fell to the Australian side after Jose Enrique's mistake gave the ball away to Andrew Nabbout who pulled a fine save out of Brad Jones.
However, just past the half-hour mark, the Red skipper got the breakthrough in the centre of the box, with a nice run, nice placement and comfortable finish off Fabio Borini.
Jordon Ibe and Raheem Sterling were producing a fine display, creating some good build-ups and unpredictable play for the young Melbourne side. The Reds seemed to have everything under control approaching half time.
Both teams made no changes during the break and Liverpool enjoyed a flurry of corners at the start of the second half where Borini sprung to life with a couple of glorious chances, including an over-head kick which went wide, just.
Brendan Rodgers then rang the changes with just under 20 minutes to go, putting on a fresh Red side to keep the Aussies on their toes.
Melbourne Victory were keeping up the pressure too though with just one goal separating the two sides and can be very proud of their performance.
Liverpool saw plenty of chances, all blocked by some stubborn defending from skipper Leijer with under 10 minutes to go.
Just a couple of minutes injury time were added on with Liverpool dominating in possession, comfortably. A free kick from left outside the box was cleared easily. With all eyes on Suarez, the controversial Uruguayan eventually created a golden chance.
Aussie keeper Nathan Coe's save led to another Red corner, which was taken short by Stewart Downing, to Suarez who dunk the ball onwards and saw it turned in by Aspas to double the visitors' lead seconds before the final whistle was blown.
The question is, will the trouble maker still be wearing the Red number seven by the end of August? For now, all we know is that he has added his bit to a Red victory once again.
MVFC Team: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout (17 Stella - 83rd), 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas (27 Cristaldo - 86th).
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones (22 Mignolet - 72nd); 2 Johnson (34 Kelly - 72nd), 37 Skrtel (16 Coates - 72nd), 47 Wisdom (5 Agger - 72nd), 3 Enrique (38 Flanagan - 72nd); 8 Gerrard (c) (21 Lucas - 63rd), 24 Allen (19 Downing - 72nd), 14 Henderson (6 Alberto - 72nd), 44 Ibe (9 Aspas - 72nd), 31 Sterling (7 Suarez - 72nd); 29 Borini (Spearing - 72nd).
Subs not used: 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st & 2nd half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11 & 1-6
On target: 1-5 & 1-2
Offsides: 1-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 3-6
Free kicks: 0-0 & 2-4
Referee: Jumpi Iida
Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard
At the MCG
Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Match Notes:
1st half notes:
MVFC kick off the game at the MCG.
20th minute: 1st chance on target falls to MVFC, Enrique's mistake, gives ball away to Nabbout who pulls a fine save out of Jones.
21st: Gerrard shot deflected & saved by Coe. The tempo has certainly gone up after a slow, comfortable start.
31:01min and the star skipper gets the breakthrough in the centre of the box, nice run, nice placement, comfy finish off Borini, 0-1.
Ibe & Sterling are producing a fine display, creating some good build-ups, unpredictable for the young MVFC side. LFC seem to have more control now, approaching half time.
LFC finish the half on top, enjoying more chances & a one-goal lead thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard. The young Melbourne side are holding on & making a fine match of it though. More to come of the second half, I'm sure.
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2nd half notes:
LFC kick off the second half at the MCG, no changes have been made by either side.
A flurry of corners for LFC at the start of this half. Suarez is warming up...
50th: A Johnson block leads to MVFC's first corner, blocked out by Jones, leads to another corner for the young Australian side, which is headed over by Geria.
56th: Pain pulls a corner out of Skrtel, headed away by Gerrard at the near-post. Changes are imminent...
60th: Borini hits a fine chance straight at keeper Coe, swift counter by MVFC, saved by Jones. They are certainly making a match of this!
62nd: Spectacular over-head-kick by Borini goes wide.
63rd: 1st LFC substitution: 21 Lucas on for 8 Gerrard.
64th: 1st free kick for LFC, ends in a high shot, nowhere near by Sterling. A line of players are warming up for LFC.
72nd: 2nd LFC substitution(s): 1 Jones is replaced by 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson by 34 Kelly, 37 Skrtel by 16 Coates, 47 Wisdom by 5 Agger, 3 Enrique by 38 Flanagan, 24 Allen by 19 Downing, 14 Henderson by 6 Alberto, 44 Ibe by 9 Aspas, 31 Sterling by the much anticipated 7 Suarez and 29 Borini by Spearing.
75th: Downing takes a corner, straight to the keeper.
MVFC are keeping up the pressure, just one goal separating the two sides. They can be very proud of their performance here.
LFC see plenty of chances blocked, great defending by skipper Leijer with under 10 minutes to go.
83rd: 1st change for MVFC: 17 Stella on for 13 Nabbott.
86th: 2nd change for MVFC: 27 Cristaldo on for 22 Makarounas.
2 minutes added on: LFC enjoying & dominating in possession, comfortably. A free kick from left outside the box is cleared easily, all eyes on Suarez, not much to reports. Coe's save leads to another LFC corner, which is taken short by Downing, to Suarez who dinks the ball onwards and sees it turned in by Aspas, 2-0. Tough on MVFC, especially for the skipper Leijer after all his hard work, but it is a comfortable win for LFC in the end thanks to a little bit of magic by none-other than Gerrard & Suarez!
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MVFC: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout (17 Stella - 83rd), 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas (27 Cristaldo - 86th).
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones (22 Mignolet - 72nd); 2 Johnson (34 Kelly - 72nd), 37 Skrtel (16 Coates - 72nd), 47 Wisdom (5 Agger - 72nd), 3 Enrique (38 Flanagan - 72nd); 8 Gerrard (c) (21 Lucas - 63rd), 24 Allen (19 Downing - 72nd), 14 Henderson (6 Alberto - 72nd), 44 Ibe (9 Aspas - 72nd), 31 Sterling (7 Suarez - 72nd); 29 Borini (Spearing - 72nd).
Subs not used: 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st & 2nd half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11 & 1-6
On target: 1-5 & 1-2
Offsides: 1-1 & 0-1
Corners: 0-3 & 3-6
Free kicks: 0-0 & 2-4
Referee: Jumpi Iida
At the MCG
Sports - Football - Pre-Season Friendly - 1st Half Notes:
MVFC kick off the game at the MCG.
20th minute: 1st chance on target falls to MVFC, Enrique's mistake, gives ball away to Nabbout who pulls a fine save out of Jones.
21st: Gerrard shot deflected & saved by Coe.
The tempo has certainly gone up after a slow, comfortable start.
31:01min and the star skipper gets the breakthrough in the centre of the box, nice run, nice placement, comfy finish off Borini, 0-1.
Ibe & Sterling are producing a fine display, creating some good buildups, unpredictable for the young MVFC side. LFC seem to have more control now, approaching half time.
LFC finish the half on top, enjoying more chances & a one-goal lead thanks to skipper Steven Gerrard. The young Melbourne side are holding on & making a fine match of it though. More to come of the second half, I'm sure.
MVFC: 1 Coe; 4 Ansell, 23 Leijer (c), 24 Galloway, 30 Geria; 6 Broxham, 14 Celeski, 17 Jeggo; 13 Nabbout, 19 Pain, 22 Makarounas.
Coaches: Ange Postecoglou & Kevin Muscat
LFC Team: 1 Jones; 2 Johnson, 37 Skrtel, 47 Wisdom, 3 Enrique; 8 Gerrard (c), 24 Allen, 14 Henderson, 44 Ibe, 31 Sterling; 29 Borini.
Subs: 22 Mignolet, 34 Kelly, 16 Coates, 5 Agger, 38 Flanagan, - Spearing, 21 Lucas, 19 Downing, 6 Alberto, 9 Aspas, 7 Suarez, 49 Robinson, 11 Assaidi.
Kolo Toure is out with tight calf & Philippe Coutinho with a training ground knock, neither are thought to be serious.
1st half stats:
MVFC v LFC:
Attempts: 1-11
On target: 1-5
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 0-3
Free kicks: 0-0
Referee: Jumpi Iida
At the MCG
