Pre-season. The time when the likes of Dani Pacheco, Suso and Iago Aspas have convinced us that they are in fact decent players, only to disappear into the abyss thereafter. Really, for the senior players it’s just about regaining match fitness ahead of the new season, but for some it’s a chance to make an impression and force their way into the manager’s thinking. Although only against a rather poor Thai All Stars side, it was refreshing to see the Reds back in action once more, putting the misery of last season behind us and moving ahead towards the fresh 2015/16 campaign.
Liverpool’s first half XI was largely a second-string side, operating in a diamond formation, handing debuts to Adam Bogdan, Joe Gomez and Danny Ings. It took just 3 minutes to open the scoring with Lazar Markovic rounding the keeper before slotting the ball home from an acute angle following a neat through ball from Joao Carlos Teixeira. Markovic continued to look sharp throughout, playing at the tip of the diamond behind the two strikers. Ings was unlucky to have a goal ruled out but he was also lively and had some nice touches in this brief outing. The tempo dropped as the half progressed, but Mamadou Sakho was able to add a second goal before half time as he powered a header into the back of the net from Teixeira’s corner. Joe Gomez, although seen as a centre back in the long term, displayed promising speed and strength as he galloped up the right wing at will, whilst it was encouraging to see the creativity of Teixeira who created both goals, following a broken leg back in April. Aged 22, the Portuguese attacking midfielder needs to make a mark sooner rather than later if he is to have a future at Liverpool, but he certainly enhanced his reputation on this showing.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
The second half saw the sweltering heat accompanied by monsoon rain, as Liverpool fielded a stronger XI in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring new signings Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner, along with a debut for Divock Origi. The outstanding moment of the match came from Jordan Henderson, who picked out Lallana on the left with a terrific rabona chipped through ball, which Lallana converted with a low drive into the far corner. Regardless of the opposition, it was an exquisite piece of individual skill from the new captain. Origi was a bright spark, threatening with his pace, power and tidy footwork, unlucky to hit the post on two occasions, whilst Clyne and Ibe linked up well down the right, with Milner and Henderson controlling the midfield with the ease you would expect. The match gradually disintegrated as the pitch became increasingly unplayable in the torrential downpour, but there was enough time for Origi to net his first Liverpool goal, meeting a Henderson corner with a bullet header in the fashion of Sakho’s first half effort. That will have done the Belgian’s confidence good after a difficult season on loan at Lille.
Overall, it was a promising start to pre-season. Most importantly, no injuries. The new signings all played well, with Henderson and Teixeira each grabbing a couple of assists. Ultimately the result is not important, but a clean sheet and 4 goals will please Rodgers regardless and will be a healthy morale booster for the young lads in particular. After all, the quality of opposition means it’s nothing to get excited about, as with all pre-season games (i.e. the 4-0 thrashing of Dortmund last season) but the likes of Gomez, Teixeira and Origi can be especially pleased with their performances. Next stop, Australia.
Man of the Match:
1st half- Joao Teixeira
2nd half- Jordan Henderson
Red Regista
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