After a slow first quarter-hour against Leicester City in Singapore, Liverpool dominated the rest of the match winning 4-0. The Reds scored 3 goals in 9 minutes during a first-half flurry to put the game away.
First Half
Liverpool fired the first salvo of the game as Diogo Jota forced a save in the 9th minute. The game opened up from that point as Leicester City nearly struck on the counter-attack, but Caoimhin Kelleher read the danger and came off his line to make a big save. Darwin Núñez followed by putting the ball in the back of the net but he was whistled for offside.
The Foxes continued to look dangerous as they missed attempts from good positions in the 15th and 16th minutes. Curtis Jones fired a shot from well outside the box in the 21st minute. The goalie spilt the ball but he covered before Liverpool could get a boot on it
Liverpool broke through at the half-hour mark. Jota put a shot across the face of the goal that was palmed away by the keeper. It landed in the path of Núñez for a tap in and a 1-0 lead. The Reds doubled that lead in the 35th as the youngster Bobby Clark finished from the centre of the box that was set up thanks to a nice pass from Mohamed Salah.
Salah set up another goal just three minutes later as he chipped a ball into the box and on the head of Jota who nodded home the finish as Liverpool led 3-0. Jota nearly scored again in first-half stoppage time but the attempt was just wide as Liverpool settle for the 3-0 halftime lead.
Second Half
Liverpool made 10 changes at the break as the Reds had a whole new outfield for the second 45 minutes. Harvey Elliott nearly scored straight off the kickoff, but he put the chance high. Cody Gakpo earned a corner in the 52nd minute, but the attempt was cleared.
James McConnell forced a save in the 56th minute and Elliott did the same moments later. Dominik Szoboszlai nearly caught the goalie off his line with a shot from midfield, but he kept it out of the net with a header in the 61st minute.
Liverpool scored off a set piece in the 67th minute. Joel Matip's corner met the head of Ben Doak who put the shot home for a 4-0 lead. Luis Diaz headed home a shot in the 74th minute, but the tally was disallowed due to offsides. The match bogged down over the final 15 minutes, as neither side was able to produce quality chances, but Liverpool were more than happy to claim the 4-0 win.
The Old And The Young
Liverpool supporters have to be pleased with the outcome today and what it represents for the club. Some fan favourites found their way on the scoresheet with tallies from Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota. But the young guns Bobby Clark and Ben Doak also flexed their scoring muscles which speaks to the depth of this team and how they are in good hands for the future.
Bombs Away
Liverpool kept the Leicester goal under constant attack, unleashing 26 shots (12 on goal). They had a pair of goals struck off due to offsides and should have scored a few more as the Reds had some excellent chances throughout the match.
The King Of Assists
For someone with the goalscoring prowess of Mohamed Salah, you would expect to play more in front of goal. But in this match at least, the Egyptian King played in wider areas, whipping the ball into the box. He was credited with two assists. Because Liverpool have so many accomplished strikers, Salah does not have to carry the scoring load for the club. He has the freedom and flexibility to pass or hoot when he enters the attacking third of the pitch.
LFC Globe Verdict
I know this is just a pre-season match, but this is as good as Liverpool have looked in a long time. They are consistent, scoring 4 goals in three games running. They lacked that consistency last year, winning 9-0 one week before failing to score in the next one. Early indications are that this team is the exact opposite and if that is the case, opposing goalies will be picking the ball out of the back of the net a lot this season.
Since Liverpool had a different team play each half, I think it is only fair to have two players of the match, one for each half. For the first half, the honour goes to Salah with his pair of assists, For the second half, Ben Doak deserves recognition for his first goal with the Senior Team. Too bad it came during a Friendly and will not count in the official stats.
What's Next
Liverpool's tour in the Far East continues as they face Bayern Munich on Wednesday, August 2nd. Kickoff is set for 12:30 BST.
Goals
Liverpool
- Darwin Núñez 30'
- Bobby Clark 35'
- Diogo Jota 38'
- Ben Doak 64'
Leicester
None
Substitutions
Liverpool
- Ben Doak for Mohamed Salah HT'
- Dominik Szoboszlia for Alexis Mac Allister HT'
- Luis Diaz for Diogo Jota HT'
- Joe Gomez for Trent Alexander-Arnold HT'
- Jarell Quansah for Virgil van Dijk HT'
- James McConnell for Bobby Clark HT'
- Harvey Elliott for Curtis Jones HT'
- Cody Gakpo for Darwin Núñez HT'
- Joel Matip for Ibrahima Konate HT'
- Kostas Tsimikas for Andy Robertson HT'
- Alisson for Caoimhin Kelleher 61'
- Callum Scanlon for Dominik Szoboszlai 80'
- Mekamu Frauendorf for Jerell Quansah 88'
Leicester City
- Wanya Marcal-Madivadua for Marc Albrighton 60'
- Kelechi Iheanacho for Patson Daka 72'
- James Justin for Timothy Castagne 72'
- Hamza Choudhury for Harry Winks 76'