Jack Gill reviews Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Blackburn in a pre-season friendly at Ewood Park on Thursday.
Liverpool bounced back from their 0-0 draw against Bury on Saturday beating Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park in their last preseason friendly before their tour of the U.S.
It was a quiet, goalless first half of little chances despite Liverpool dominating possession. The Reds were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute of the match when young striker Dominic Solanke was knocked down in the area.
Liverpool vice-captain and captain on the day, James Milner, missed from the spot as Blackburn goalkeeper David Raya dived the right way and made a good save to deny the Reds an early opener.
When Liverpool did manage to break through Blackburn in the first half, it was through Adam Lallana who missed two golden opportunities. The first saw him hit the woodwork from Ben Woodburn’s layoff before seeing a shot cleared off the line as the first half drew to a close.
It was the first pre-season friendly this year where Jurgen Klopp hadn’t released two line-ups: one for each half. Instead, Liverpool made 10 changes at the break including the introduction of Naby Keïta and Daniel Sturridge who were superb.
We had to wait a year to get Keïta after a deal was agreed to sign the Guinean in August 2017 but it was worth it as our new number 8 has been brilliant so far during pre-season and many Reds are looking forward to seeing him in action in the Premier League and Champions League this season.
Another one of the changes for LFC at half-time saw Lazar Markovic enter the field of play. Markovic has had a disappointing career at Liverpool and has spent the past three seasons on various loan spells away from the club.
It was the Serbian though, who broke the deadlock against Blackburn in the 63rd minute, beating Jayson Leutwiler from 12 yards, following a brilliant first touch after a good ball by Daniel Sturridge, who is set to be given another chance to prove himself.
Sturridge doubled our lead 10 minutes later after brilliant link-up play between Keita and himself. The Guinean produced a brilliant ball over the Rovers defence for the Englishman who finished at the near post.
Later in the evening, Liverpool announced the £65million signing of Alisson to round off a great day for supporters.
Liverpool’s next game is in the USA against Dortmund on Sunday. Liverpool’s new number 10, Sadio Mane and last season’s Player of the Season, Mo Salah started training again on Friday and are due to travel to the US with the squad tomorrow.
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