Pre-Season: Reds Run Over Rovers 0-2

Sports - Football - Pre-Season - BRFC 0-2 LFC

Liverpool ended comfortable 2-0 winners against Blackburn Rovers on Thursday night at Ewood Park thanks to second-half goals from Lazar Markovic and Daniel Sturridge.

As in the other three pre-season friendlies, Jürgen Klopp fielded a different team each half, giving youngsters some play time as well as coupling experienced players with newbies, as the World Cup stars are not joining the side in training till end of the week.

And the match kicked off in glorious sunshine, Dominic Solanke being awarded a penalty after just five minutes when challenged by keeper David Raya Martin trying to reach Ben Woodburn’s pass.

But the Rovers keeper made up for his error pushing away James Milner’s spot kick and keeping the scoreline at 0-0.

The Reds did have the ball in the net with just under half an hour gone, Divock Origi tapping in Alberto Moreno’s cross after Adam Lallana’s blocked shot, but the flag was up.

Loris Karius denied the newly promoted Championship side by blocking a nice drill by Dominic Samuel, a little confidence booster after the German keeper’s Champions League nightmare.

Lallana hit the woodwork before seeing Charlie Mulgrew clear his goal-bound shot off the line seconds later, two chances, zero goals, the two teams went into the break deadlocked, 0-0.

Ten changes were made after the interval for the Premier League team - keeper Karius the only survivor, the Reds continued dominating play and chances.

The game was refreshed, boosted, especially long awaited Naby Keita impressing with his play and interplay for Klopp’s men, setting up Sturridge, creating chance after chance.

The latter collected the ball and spotted Markovic’s fine run, who netted the number 15's accurate pass with a fine touch and effort to make it 0-1 to the visitors after 64 minutes, not long after the home side had made nine changes.

Red academy midfielder Rafael Camacho’s chance beat sub keeper Jayson Leutwiler but was cleared off the line by Paul Downing minutes later.

With just over quarter of an hour to go, Keita’s force was felt again and his run and pass was finished off by Sturridge this time, making up for earlier misses and doubling the Reds’ lead.

Leutwiler denied Camacho before the full-time whistle, ending a nice dominant run out for the Reds before they head off on to their US Tour where they will face Klopp's former side Dortmund (22/07), champions Manchester City (26/07) and bitter rivals Manchester United (28/07).

And it was all topped up not long after the match with the official announcement of Alisson Becker having completed his medical and joining from AS Roma to replace under-fire Karius and out-of-favour Simon Mignolet after a long media-frenzy and speculation, breaking the transfer world record for a keeper.

All in all the Reds can be happy with their progress, in the pre-season matches, the transfer market, general dealings and wheelings, and team spirit, general optimism felt all round, despite the bad news of the week of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain confirmed to be missing most of the season through injury.

Liverpool Goals: Markovic 63’ & Sturridge 73’.

Match Stats: BRFC 0-2 LFC

Possession: 30.3%-69.7%

Shots: 4-16

On target: 2-6

Corners: 1-3

Offsides: 2-1

Fouls: 13-7

Blackburn Team: 1 Raya; 3 Williams, 14 Mulgrew* (c) (45’), 26 Lenihan, 2 Nyambe; 8 Rothwell, 31 Bennett, 6 Smallwood, 29 Evans* (45’), 9 Samuel; 23 Dack. 4-5-1

2nd half substitutes 60’: 25 Downing, 18 Davenport, 11 Whittingham, 13 Leutwiler, 17 Bell* (45’), 28 Tomlinson, 32 Conway, 34 Wharton, 27 Travis* (45’), 37 Fisher, 24 Nuttall.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius* (59’); 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 2 Clyne; 20 Lallana, 7 Milner (c), 58 Woodburn; 29 Solanke, 27 Origi, 54 Ojo. 4-3-3

2nd half substitutes 45’: 3 Fabinho, 4 Van Dijk, 8 Keita, 12 Gomez, 15 Sturridge, 26 Robertson, 47 Phillips, 48 Jones, 50 Markovic, 64 Camacho, 62 Kelleher* (59’).

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Ground: Ewood Park

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the LFCTV matchday coverage and Sky Sports App and website.

Liverpool Lift PL Asia Trophy

Sports - Football - PL Asia Trophy - LFC 2:1 LCFC

Liverpool lifted the Premier League Asia Trophy after beating Leicester 2-1 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Click here to relive all the action with my ByTheMin coverage.

The 2016 champions took the lead after 12 minutes with a lovely goal.

Defender Christian Fuchs got to the byline, crossed from the left, finding Algerian forward Islam Slimani towards the far post, who headed it in, to complete a nicely worked goal.

Another Algerian midfielder was the shining light for Leicester in an action-packed opening 15-20 minutes.

Riyad Mahrez created and produced most, team mates Daniel Drinkwater and Jamie Vardy helping him out nicely, with some lovely team play.

Liverpool looked more clumsy, defender Joel Matip especially, not having a clue what to do with the ball, taking too long, giving it away, too much, too many times.

Red boss Jürgen Klopp was going mental on the side-lines, ranting at one of the officials.

The crowd was having their fun with it, chanting and cheering to see if the loud German would be cautioned...

But he remained in the technical area. Jawohl.

It was hard to believe this was a friendly.

A nice run and great cross by Barca target Philippe Coutinho set up striker Mohamed Salah to head it past Kasper Schmeichel and level the score 1-1 with 20 minutes gone.

And just before the break, the little magician was at it again.

A right-footed smacker of a strike by the Brazilian from the edge of the left corner of the box gave Schmeichel no chance and made it 2-1.

The crowd were on their feet and in awe, and Klopp much happier.

The second half saw a bulk of substitutions and more changes throughout, continuously changing the flow of play and action.

Liverpool kept dominating possession and play though, Leicester missing most opportunities.

It was not to be for Craig Shakespeare's men, the Reds seeing them out of the competition holding on to their fine lead.

The Red fans are left hoping and definitely believing that this is just the first of many trophies, just a warm-up of what is to come.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 66 Alexander-Arnold*, 32 Matip*, 6 Lovren*, 7 Milner* (c); 5 Wijnaldum*, 20 Lallana*, 10 Coutinho*; 11 Salah*, 9 Firmino*, 27 Origi*. 4-3-3
Substitutes: 12 Gomez*, 14 Henderson*, 15 Sturridge*, 16 Grujic*, 17 Klavan*, 18 Moreno*, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke*, 38 Flanagan*, 40 Kent*, 58 Woodburn*.

Leicester Team: 1 Schmeichel; 18 Amartey*, 5 Morgan* (c), 15 Maguire, 28 Fuchs; 26 Mahrez* (booked), 22 James*, 4 Drinkwater*, 11 Albrighton*; 19 Slimani*, 9 Vardy*. 4-4-2
Substitutes: 2 Simpson*, 10 King*, 13 Musa*, 16 Lawrence*, 17 Jakupovic, 20 Okazaki, 21 Iborra*, 23 Ulloa*, 25 Ndidi* (booked), 29 Benalouane*, 31 Elder, 32 Barnes, 33 Moore.

*Subs made, most in the second half

HT Stats: LFC 2-1 LCFC
Possession: 58%-42%
Shots: 6-3
On target: 3-1
Blocked: 3-1
Offside: 1-1
Passes: 220-161
Touches: 311-231
Tackles: 8-6

FT Stats: LFC 2-1 LCFC
Possession: 64%-36%
Shots: 11-6
On target: 6-2
Blocked: 4-2
Offside: 2-1
Passes: 541-314
Touches: 704-450
Tackles: 12-15 

Referee: R. Madley
Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho
Ground: Hong Kong Stadium

Click here to read my last LFC match report.

Pictures, stats and facts taken from the LCFC and LFC matchday blog and Sky Sports match coverage.

1st Pre-Season Friendly: TRFC 0-4 LFC

Sports - Football - Pre-Season - TRFC 0-4 LFC

Liverpool warmed up nicely and strongly in their first 2017-18 pre-season friendly, thrashing Tranmere Rovers 4-0 at Prenton Park.

It was a good chance for Reds manager Jürgen Klopp to give all of his players their first run around after just eight days of training back from the summer holidays, making ten changes after the interval.

Both halves were dominated by the visitors, with possession and chances galore.

Micky Mellon's side were made to work hard and gave their all, goalkeeper Scott Davies and the back line keeping well and solid...

Until James Milner broke the deadlock from the spot with just over half an hour gone after Tranmere stopper Davies brought down Sheyi Ojo in the box.

Marko Grujic doubled Liverpool's lead with a cracker a few minutes before the break, picking up the ball from 30 yards out, working his way through and finishing off nicely.

All changes brought a new and fresh wave of dominance and opportunities for the Reds, Pedro Chirivella netting nicely four minutes into the second half after Dominic Solanke's turn and shot.

And youngster Ben Woodburn converted Liverpool's second penalty sealing the deal making it 0-4 to the visitors after the Welsh midfielder was fouled in the box by Davies.

No discrediting the National League side, but the result reflects the Red dominance and nice start to the pre-season warmup.

Liverpool Goals: Milner pen 33', Grujic 41', Chirivella 49' & Woodburn pen 79'.

Tranmere Rovers lineup: 1 Davies*; 3 Ridehalgh*, 6 Sutton, 5 McNulty, 2 Buxton, 7 Duggan*; 11 Norburn*, 18 Hughes, 8 Harris*; 10 Norwood*, 9 Cook*. 5-3-2
Subs: 11 Jennings*, 25 Pilling*, 14 Clarke*, 15 Gumbs, 16 Dunn*, 17 Solomon, 4 Owusu*, 19 Mangan*, 20 Rokka*.

Liverpool 1st half lineup: 1 Karius; 7 Milner, 21 Lucas, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 6 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson, 16 Grujic; 15 Sturridge, 9 Firmino, 54 Ojo. 4-3-3
Subs: 2 Clyne, 12 Gomez, 17 Klavan, 29 Solanke, 35 Stewart, 38 Flanagan, 40 Kent, 50 Markovic, 56 Randall, 58 Woodburn, 68 Chirivella, 73 Grabara.

Liverpool 2nd half lineup: 1 Karius*; 38 Flanagan, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 2 Clyne; 58 Woodburn, 35 Stewart, 68 Chirivella; 40 Kent, 29 Solanke, 50 Markovic. 4-3-3
Subs: 56 Randall, 73 Grabara*.

*Subs made in the second half

Match Stats: TRFC 0-4 LFC
Shots: 6-21
On target: 2-10
Offside: 2-0
Corners: 0-8
Tackles: 20-12
Tackles won: 80%-10%
Free kicks: 12-11
Bookings: 0-0
Possession: 30.2%-69.8%
Passes: 306-696
Passing accuracy: 73.5%-92.2%
Crosses: 9-33
Successful crosses: 11.1%-15.2%

Referee: Mike Dean
Man of the match: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Ground: Prenton Park

Click here to read my last LFC match report.

Pictures, stats and facts taken from the LFC matchday blog and LFCTV match coverage.