BRENDAN Rodgers’ Liverpool sealed a comfortable win over League One outfit Preston as the Reds lifted the Bill Shankly Shield in the opening game of pre-season on Saturday afternoon.
I know people are going to say it was only a friendly and what really matters is the first game against Stoke on August 17. I get their point but it was good to see new signings Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas get their opportunity to wear the Liverbird for the first time.
The game began in typical close-season fashion as both sides looked to establish a foothold of possession. It was not long though, before Liverpool’s superiority in possession would tell and the lively Philippe Coutinho was the architect.
The Brazilian nipped in ahead of the dithering former Reds midfielder John Welsh, who tripped the 21-year-old in the area. Neil Swasbrick pointed to the spot and Coutinho dusted himself down and stroked the ball home nonchalantly from 12 yards to give the team a deserved advantage.
We were unlucky not to get a second penalty after Borini was fouled in the area but the referee waved away the protests.
The second goal did arrive on 36 minutes after youngster Jordan Ibe notched his first-ever goal for the first team with a well-placed effort from 20 yards inside Declan Rudd’s near post. Ibe looked emotional as he quietly celebrated with his team-mates.
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For the second-half numerous changes were made by both Brendan Rodgers and Simon Grayson, due to fitness levels of players and the heat; temperatures reached a whopping 33 degrees + on the pitch.
Dani Pacheco came on in the second-half and tested the keeper early on with speculative effort. Sadly this could be his final ever appearance as a Liverpool player.
Raheem Sterling back to fitness after missing the latter part of last season due to a thigh injury scored the third goal and effectively put the game to bed when he linked well with debutant Iago Aspas and strode through on goal, before rounding the keeper and calmly rolling the ball home in to an empty net.
However there was more to come when the former Celta Vigo striker Aspas rounded off the win in style with a sumptuous finish, good build up play from the team sent Glen Johnson on his way to set up Aspas to rifle into the roof of the net past the stunned Stuckmann.
This win will only breed confidence for when the Reds play their next three pre-season games on tour in Jakarta, Melbourne and Bangkok where the likes of Pepe Reina, wantaway striker Luis Suarez and Sebastian Coates will get a chance to play after being away on duty with their national sides for the Confederations Cup.
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Luis suarez is one man solder. But now, there asistant now.
nice one from d boys