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as Gerrard slid him a great pass but his shot deflected off the side netting and in the closing stages, Gerrard was withdrawn and received a rousing standing ovation from the loyal Anfield crowd who celebrated a memorable win.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

2013/14 Pre-Season Begins At Deepdale

Liverpool's preparation for the new season began perfectly with a 4-0 victory away to Preston North End to win the Shankly Shield.

The friendly was arranged to celebrate the impact that Bill Shankly made on both teams, as a player at Preston and as the legendary manager at Liverpool in the year that he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

Liverpool gave starting debuts to Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure in a side of youth and experience but it was the youth that shone the brighter early on as Coutinho forced former red John Welsh to concede a penalty and the Brazilian stepped up to cooly slot home to open the scoring.

The lead doubled in the 36th minute via a superb long range strike from Jordon Ibe who notched his first goal for the club and Liverpool went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

The second half saw Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas make their debuts as part of ten changes which meant only Mignolet would play in both halves.Aspas was influential in Liverpool's third in the 64th minute through fit again Raheem Sterling who linked with Aspas before sliding the ball home for a well taken goal.

Aspas was rewarded for his earlier assist with the fourth and final goal of the afternoon in the 74th minute with a sweet strike from 25 yards which looped in and capped a good performance for Liverpool.

Season Results Magnetised

Carragher Bids Farewell On A High

An emotional farewell by Jamie Carragher in his 737th and final game for Liverpool saw a victory over QPR end his glittering seventeen years courtesy of a super strike by Philippe Coutinho.

A surprise entry on the final team-sheet was 17-year old Jordan Ibe who has impressed in the youth ranks this season and will hope to repeat the feat of one Michael Owen who's debut on the final day in 1997 began an amazing career which incidentally came to an end today as he retired at Stoke.

Liverpool came out of the blocks quickly as Coutinho was unlucky to be denied a goal by the official as he connected to a Downing corner with a header which appeared to cross the line but appeals were ignored.

As has been a tradition recently, Coutinho was the driving force for Liverpool and set himself up in the 18th minute as he evaded a challenge with ease before sending a shot wide of the post but he avenged the wayward shot with a stellar strike five minutes later as a cool assist by debutant Ibe saw the Brazilian waste no time in unleashing a 25-yard bullet that flew past Green and into the corner to send Anfield wild.

Liverpool pushed for a second as they maintained their pressure on the already relegated QPR and a surging run by Johnson saw him lift a left footed chance over the bar while QPR had a chance via Townsend from long range which blazed wide of the target.

A good debut for Ibe nearly became great as he swished down the left and aimed a bullet of a shot that flashed narrowly across the face of goal and saw the Reds go into the break at 1-0.

Five minutes after the restart and Green was called into action as Johnson hit a strong shot which arrowed towards the top corner forcing a improvised palm from the England stopper.

One dream that everyone in Liverpool red had in their mind was a Carragher goal in his final match and only the upright of the post denied the dream as an uncharacteristic screamer of a shot from the legendary number 23 agonisingly crashed back from 25 yards out to deny him a magic farewell.

Ten minutes to go and Suso stung the palms of Green from a tight angle only for the rebound to go to Downing who's goalbound shot was duly blocked.

As the end approached, Anfield saw a standing ovation as the stalwart Jamie Carragher was replaced by Sebastian Coates to bring an end to his amazing career as he bid farewell to Anfield for the final time before retiring to go into a media career for Sky Sports next season.

As the final whistle went, Liverpool had secured the win to end the season on a high and send Carragher off on a high as the future looks bright for the club with the hero again being the 20-year-old Coutinho who with Sturridge has turned the fortunes of the club around in recent months and makes many wonder how the season would have gone had they both been signed last summer rather then midway through the campaign.


Hopefully, I will sign off 2012/13 with a review and compilation of my magnetised scores within the week so watch this space....