Liverpool down Dortmund 4-0
Brazilian playmaker Coutinho inspires club’s warm-up victory.
LIVERPOOL:
Liverpool warmed up for the start of their Premier League campaign with a Philippe Coutinho-inspired 4-0 friendly win over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’s side dominated their final pre-season match with Brazilian playmaker Coutinho the most impressive performer as he scored one goal and had a hand in another.
Liverpool, looking to go one better after finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, handed debuts to new defensive signings Javier Manquillo and Lovren, while Sturridge had shaken off a hamstring injury to start in attack.
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp had only one of Germany’s quartet of World Cup-winning players at his disposal in the form of Kevin Grosskreutz, who remained on the bench.
Rodgers, with one eye on the visit of Southampton in their opening league game, made a number of substitutions throughout the second period as Lucas Leiva Jordan Ibe, Rickie Lambert, Jose Enrique, Martin Kelly and Joe Allen were all introduced.
The changes to personnel saw Liverpool’s passing become disjointed in the final half hour as the game petered out as contest.
But Dortmund, well short of match fitness, rarely troubled a Liverpool defence marshalled well by Martin Skrtel and Lovren throughout.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2014.
Liverpool warmed up for the start of their Premier League campaign with a Philippe Coutinho-inspired 4-0 friendly win over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’s side dominated their final pre-season match with Brazilian playmaker Coutinho the most impressive performer as he scored one goal and had a hand in another.
Liverpool, looking to go one better after finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, handed debuts to new defensive signings Javier Manquillo and Lovren, while Sturridge had shaken off a hamstring injury to start in attack.
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp had only one of Germany’s quartet of World Cup-winning players at his disposal in the form of Kevin Grosskreutz, who remained on the bench.
Rodgers, with one eye on the visit of Southampton in their opening league game, made a number of substitutions throughout the second period as Lucas Leiva Jordan Ibe, Rickie Lambert, Jose Enrique, Martin Kelly and Joe Allen were all introduced.
The changes to personnel saw Liverpool’s passing become disjointed in the final half hour as the game petered out as contest.
But Dortmund, well short of match fitness, rarely troubled a Liverpool defence marshalled well by Martin Skrtel and Lovren throughout.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2014.