Liverpool 1 Stoke 0 (EPL 1)

Liverpool opened the 2013/14 Premier League season in style against Stoke thanks to the heroics of Simon Mignolet who saved a late penalty.

Both sides started well and hit the woodwork in the opening 15 minutes, Stoke did so first as Mignolet failed to parry a cross and Huth hit a volley which pinged back off the crossbar. This inspired Liverpool who soon thought they had opened the scoring as Sturridge connected with Gerrard's free-kick to hit past Begovic but was judged to be offside.

Kolo Toure had a great chance to break the deadlock but his powerful header cannoned off the bar and Sturridge's follow-up went hight and wide to keep the score level. Aspas exchanged passes with Enrique and the left-back hit a low shot that Begovic kept out.

Coutinho slid a pass for Henderson but Begovic was quick to react and denied the midfielder but the Bosnian was soon beaten as Sturridge hit an unstoppable volley from 25 yards and Anfield eruped to the sight of the first goal of the new season.

Stoke fought back and forced Mignolet into an acrobatic save to keep out a 20-yard curler from Walters and soon Stoke were denied by a goal-line clearance by Lucas after Shawcross' effort and Liverpool led into the break.

The lead could have been two by the hour mark but Sturridge failed to connect to Coutinho's cross and the result was Henderson who hit for goal but was denied by Begovic. Sturridge tried again when he fired form a tight angle that caused Begovic to tip the ball onto the post.


Liverpool were looking good for their firsst opening day win since 2008 but as the game entered its final minutes, Agger handled the ball in the area and Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot but Mignolet was cool under pressure and dived the right way to keep Walters' effort out as Liverpool held on for the win.

Liverpool 0 Celtic 1

Liverpool''s pre-season winning run came to an end in Dublin as the went down 1-0 to Scottish champions Celtic.

The early stages saw Liverpool comfortable in possession but it was Celtic who took the lead in the 12th minute as Balde knocked the ball past Wisdom and his shot hit Mignolet who had rushed out and the deflection sent the ball into the open net to the despair of the Belgian 'keeper.

Liverpool pushed for the leveller which saw Zaluska in the Celtic goal called into action, first to deny Coutinho from close range then acrobatically keeping out an attempt from Downing to keep his side in front.

Celtic created a chance to extend their lead just before the interval as a curling cross from Izaguirre gave Stokes a great chance but his header was tame and taken easily by Mignolet.

The second half began with the return of Daniel Sturridge who was making his first appearance since May and he could have made an instant impact but his first shot went wayward, he received a pass from Johnson and teed himself up for the shot that went narrowly past the post.

Kolo Toure thought he had equalised after superb connection from Gerrard's free-kick as the Ivorian glanced a header past substitute keeper Forster but his celebration of a first Liverpool goal were dashed as the referee deemed him to be offside.

Sturridge showed why he has been missed the summer with a clever flick that released Coutinho but the Brazilian rushed a shot which went wide but they linked well harking back to their partnership at the back end of last season and came close to an equaliser in the final minutes as Coutinho looped the ball to the forward who lofted the ball over Forster only for it go go wide but his last impact was a superb drive from 25 yards which soared over to the groans of the Liverpool fans who were left to reflect on a first loss of a pre-season that had come to a disappointing close.

Next up is the opening weekend of the new Premier League season against Stoke on Saturday which starts off what is expected to be the most exciting season in years so we will see...

Valerenga 1 Liverpool 4

Liverpool made it six wins from six in pre-season with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Valerenga in Oslo.

Rodgers made numerous changes from Saturday's testimonial with only Aspas and Allen retaining their place in the starting lineup, proof of Liverpool's threat came early on as a run by Downing saw him display lightning pace to drill into the box and narrowly miss connecting the ball with Ibe.

Henderson swept in a free-kick which went wide and Allen had a chance with a wayward effort before Ibe skipped past the defence but hit a shot which failed to trouble the ,keeper. Aspas had a double chance as he blasted goal wards only to be denied by the 'keeper and drifted a shot wide of the post after a deflection.

 

Liverpool continued to pressure with a clever move featuring Alberto, Allen and Downing which allowed Ibe to work Kongshavn in the Valerenga goal and he shone as Downing tested him only to be denied by the 'keeper's head.

 

The net was soon breached as Aspas' clever lob bounced off the crossbar and as the defenders failed to clear, Alberto hit a precise volley that flew into the bottom corner just after the half-hour mark. The lead only lasted four minutes as Gonzalez rose from a inswinging corner and headed past Jones.

 

Liverpool regained the lead just before the break as Aspas made up for his earlier miss by tapping home after being picked out by Downing to ensure a 2-1 half time lead. Rodgers made ten changes leaving only Wisdom on from the first half and Liverpool started brightly and went further ahead in the 54th minute as Valerenga's failure to deal with a corner allowed Kelly to forced the ball over the line for a 3-1 lead.

Borini could have added a fourth as he latched onto a loose ball, rounded the goalkeeper and aimed for gal but the ball rolled along the line and refused to go over, he hit another shot from 20 yards out which cannoned off the crossbar but a fourth was added in the final seconds as Sterling slotted home to seal a 4-1 win and keep up the pre-season winning streak.

Liverpool 2-0 Olympiacos

A memorable and emotional testimonial for Steven Gerrard saw Liverpool make it five wins from five in pre-season thanks to strikes from Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson.

The pre-match hype was about the potential cameos from Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher and Liverpool dominated early on as Aspas was denied in the fourth minute in a one-on-one with Megyeri.

Allen and Aspas combined and the Spaniard drilled the ball across goal for Allento slot the ball into the gaping net to send the crowd wild and hand Liverpool a 1-0 lead. The lead could have increased as Glen Johnson skipped inside and hit a powerful shot than narrowly missed the goal.

Liverpool continued to dominate into the second half as Coutinho tested Megyeri as he raced into the area and looked for a low shot but the Hungarian stemmed the pressure but Coutinho created the next chance as he set up Sterling who raced clear and tried a lob which sailed over Megyeri but also over the bar to the gasps of the Kop faithful.

The home fans roared as Suarez entered the field, a cheer that looked to have overwhelmed him as  Henderson and the legendary Carragher joined him in place of Aspas, Allen and Toure. Henderson made an instant impact as he raced onto a pinpoint pass by Sterling and with his first touch slotted the ball past the keeper to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead just after the hour mark.

As the game reached the 70th minute, a deafening cheer and applause greeted the arrival of Robbie Fowler in what would potentially be his last professional appearance as he formed a dream strikeforce alongside Suarez - a partnership that would have been lethal in Fowler's era.

Fowler came close to hitting a memorable goal as Gerrard slid him a great pass but his shot deflected off the side netting and in the closing stages, Gerrard was withdrawn and received a rousing standing ovation from the loyal Anfield crowd who celebrated a memorable win.

 

Thailand 0-3 Liverpool

Liverpool brought the curtain down on their tour of the Far East with a comfortable 3-0 win over a Thailand XI on Sunday.

So far this pre-season it has been Coutinho who has been on great form in the early stages and he could have replicated that in the 11th minute but from a Johnson cross, his scissor kick didn't find the net.

However, it only took five minutes before he continued his rich scoring streak as he stole the ball before showing great trickery to slot into the bottom corner and open the scoring and Thailand could have equalised with a strong shot from 20 yards which Mignolet was sharp to keep out and Liverpool led 1-0 at the break.

Liverpool started the second half perfectly as Coutinho picked out Aspas who beat a defender with a superb spin before shooting past the keeper to secure his third goal for Liverpool and give his side a 2-0 lead.

Gerrard added a third just before the hour mark as Allen raced clear in midfield and supplied a pass to Aspas who picked out Gerrard who flicked the ball over the keeper to wild celebration from the fans.

A number of changes took place as Aspas and Fabio Borini made way for Luis Suarez and Jordon Ibe, Kolo Toure and Coutinho -were replaced by Martin Skrtel and Jordan Henderson, while everyone else lasted until the closing stages.

As the end drew close both Suarez and Gerrard hit the crossbar and Henderson had a chance hit off the line but the score finished at 3-0 as Liverpool completed the tour unbeaten.

Melbourne Victory 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool continued their Far East tour with a 2-0 win over A-League side Melbourne Victory in the second game of the tour.

Both sides started well but it was Liverpool who had the best chance to open the scoring as Sterling had a sight of goal but sliced wide from 25 yards, Nabbout tested Brad Jones from a similar distance and the Australian keeper kept his shot out.

Gerrard latched onto a pass from Sterling with a fierce strike that Coe in the Victory goal leapt to save on the half-hour, Allen hit a pinpoint pass to Gerrard who calmly slotted the ball past Coe to open the scoring just after the half-hour mark.

Liverpool pushed to increase their lead and came close as Sterling and Gerrard combined and the captain hit a shot that sadly continued to rise over the bar meaning a 1-0 lead at the break.

The Reds came out with the same desire to score they had left with as Skrtel connected to Gerrard's corner forcing Coe into a good save and later on, Borini hit a cool volley from the edge of the area which Coe did well to save and from the save, Victory tested Liverpool via Connor Pain who hit a left foot drive that forced Jones into an acrobatic save.

Liverpool soon made a mass of changes and Aspas secured the win in stoppage time with a simple tap-in after some excellent trickery by Luis Suarez who strangely looked disappointed after the assist. 

Liverpool remain unbeaten going into the final game of the tour against a Thailand XI before returning home for Gerrard's testimonial.

Indonesia XI 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool began their summer tour with a 2-0 win over an Indonesian XI with Coutinho opening the scoring in the 10th minute as he attempted a pass to Luis Alberto only to have it ricochet back allowing him to race into the box and slide the ball under Meiga.

Liverpool came close to adding to their lead on the half-hour as Downing met an Enrique cross with a volley but was denied by Meiga and but was helpless as Alberto hit a shot which crashed against the crossbar.

The hosts could have drawn level as Van Dijk tested Mignolet with a 30-yard shot which the Belgian glanced wide and ensured a half time lead for his side.

Aspas came close to his second Liverpool goal as he raced clear of the defence before shooting high after the ball bobbled in the run and he was the provider on the hour mark for Coutinho who scooped a shot over the bar.

Wholesale changes were made with 25 minutes remaining and Sterling made an instant impression as he skipped past a challenge before hitting a 30-yard drive just wide and moments later he hit a shot against the crossbar. 

Sterling's efforts were rewarded in the final minutes as Assaidi teed him up as they found themselves with only Meiga to beat following nice play by Ibe and the Morrocan selflessly slid the ball across for Sterling to tap into the empty net and seal the win.