Pre-season Ends For Liverpool
The pre-season is always a good way for a manager to get a general impression of his squad, see his new signings in action and hopefully get some good results for the upcoming season. For new Liverpool manager Robbie Fowler, a very good impression will have been given from his squad during the pre-season. The team played seven friendly matches, with six of them being away, and lost just once.
The Results
: Glen Johnson
Liverpool kicked off their pre-season with a behind closed doors friendly. against their reserve squad, played at the home ground of Chester FC, Deva Park. Nearing half time, new signing Iago Aspas lashed a perfect low cross from English fullback Glen Johnson into the top corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
After half time, another Glen Johnson cross dissected the defence and Victor Moses, on loan from Chelsea, headed the ball into the bottom corner. With just five minutes left, Cameroonian center back Stephen Sama tugged Moses' shirt, leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty. Captain Steven Gerrard stepped up to take it and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 3-0.
Attendance: 0.
: Aly Cissokho
After the 3-0 win against their reserve squad, Liverpool traveled to The Czech Republic where they faced Sparta Prague in the capital, where they hoped to build on the previous result. However, just before half an hour had passed, Ladislav Krejci put a good cross into the box, matched by a super header from Jaromir Zimolka. The Czechs had taken the lead and silenced the away supporters.
However, after half time, Liverpool leveled, thanks to controversial striker Luis Suárez, who volleyed fellow striker Daniel Sturridge's knock down into the net. The match finished 1-1, a fair reflection of the game. Sparta Prague dominated possession but failed to create enough chances and Liverpool created many chances but failed to take them. Attendance: 7,122.
: Miroslav Klose
For their next match, Liverpool stayed in The Czech Republic, where they came up against less reputable opposition in the form of Pribram. But four minutes before half time, Pribram took the lead when Erik Vaculik superbly directed Jan Possinger's cross into the top right corner of the goal with his head.
Seven minutes after half time, Liverpool equalized with a goal from new signing, veteran German striker Miroslav Klose. The goal came after Victor Moses played a low cross into Klose, who volleyed it first time from close range into the goal, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
Liverpool took the lead for the first time in the match when Victor Moses scored the goal of the match. He picked the ball up just outside the penalty area, rolled it to the side, before unleashing a fierce drive into the bottom corner. Five minutes later, however, Pribram equalized. Tomas Pejsa rose above all of the defenders to head past Mignolet from a cross by Radek Janik. With just over five minutes remaining, Klose struck again. Another cross from Moses was this time met by the head of Klose, and he powered the ball into the bottom corner. Attendance: 8,158.
: Daniel Agger
Liverpool's fourth friendly saw them leave The Czech Republic and Europe and arrive in Colombia to play Junior. Liverpool scored the only goal of the game after an early own goal from Junior defender Alirio Ortega, who battled with Luis Suárez in the six yard box. He won the header and tried to divert it behind for a corner but could only turn it into his own net.
Attendance: 21,378.
: José Enrique
Liverpool returned to Europe and made the trip to Spain where an emotional Iago Aspas returned to his old employers, Celta Vigo. The striker gave a heartfelt speech before the match started, thanking everyone at the club and the fans for their support. He was given a standing ovation from the crowd, but they were soon silenced when he put the emotion behind him to score a brilliant header from a Glen Johnson cross in the first half.
He was taken off at half time to be replaced by new signing, 'wonderkid' Richairo Živković. This proved to be a good decision as the youngster scored a truly memorable goal late on. New signing, Keisuke Honda, played a brilliant ball through to him. HE then cut inside the penalty area before unleashing an unstoppable shot which struck the post before crossing the line. The match finished 2-0 and Iago Aspas stayed in Spain for a few days after the match to say a final goodbye to his former teammates and his old club. Attendance: 15,632.
: Amauri
The penultimate friendly saw Liverpool play Italian Serie A side Parma. Things looked to be going smoothly for Liverpool when Luis Suárez headed in a brilliant cross from Richairo Živković after just two minutes. However, seventeen minutes later, Walter Gargano equalized for the Italians with an easy tap in from Jonathan Biabiany's cross. Parma took the lead when Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho's attempted clearance bounced off of Amauri, looped over his head and got smashed into the net.
They extended the lead when the referee gave a penalty for an apparent trip by José Enrique. Antonio Cassano stepped up to take the penalty and slipped the ball under the Liverpool keepers' body. Liverpool pulled one back with just under 20 minutes to go when young Spaniard Luis Alberto, who signed for Liverpool in the summer, headed in a cross from Jordan Henderson. The result meant that Liverpool had lost their first friendly of the pre-season. Attendance: 9,487.
: Iago Aspas
The final friendly saw Liverpool take on Turkish side Antalyspor. The first goal of the match came just before half time when 17 year old Richairo Živković was superbly played in by English midfielder Jordan Henderson. He controlled the ball excellently before rounding the keeper and slotting into the net.
Eight minutes after half time, he scored again. This time, he picked up a lovely through ball from Iago Aspas, took a touch and placed it into the bottom corner. He missed out on a hat-trick but Liverpool got a third when Živković ambitiously flicked the ball on with his head. It looked like it was going straight to the Antalyspor goalkeeper but IAgo Aspas was determined to score and looped in behind the last defender before heading the ball over the oncoming keeper. Attendance: 6,901.
Pre-season Awards
The Player Of The Pre-season Award goes to Iago Aspas, who not only scored a few, but managed to assist his teammates a lot as well. A thoroughly deserved winner.
The Young Player Of The Pre-season Award goes to new signing Richairo Živković. The 17 year old was brilliant throughout the pre-season and managed to get on the scoresheet a few times, as well as setting up a couple of goals. He also scored one of the best goals of the pre-season in the match against Celta Vigo.