Liverpool officially kicked off their pre-season at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium today, dispatching the Thai All Stars 4-0. The heat and humidity proved only part of the challenge as the Merseysders looked to get fit. Half way through the contest showed why it is called monsoon season in the Far East.
Nevertheless, Liverpool have begun their preparations well. A number of players impressed as new players look to integrate and younger ones try to earn a place in the side. New strikers Danny Ings and Divockk Origi shown brightly but against little defensive pressure. There is no question, even with such lopsided scoreline, that the Reds continue to look thin up front and are in need of some striker reinforcements, even with the eventual return of Daniel Sturridge.
First Half
Liverpool started with a mix of youth and experience, giving new lads Danny Ings, Joe Gomez and Adam Bogdan their first starts in red. Academy players Jordan Rossiter, Joao Carlos Teixeira, and Andre Wisdom, combined with returning squad players Kolo Toure, Rickie Lambert, Lazar Markovic, and more routine starters Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho.
Liverpool’s early attempts to press fell off quickly as the Thai All Stars lacked any real ability retain possession of the ball. Add to that an early goal from the Reds and the hosts were content to drop off and allow Liverpool to move the ball almost at will.
Three minutes into the match, Markovic accelerated behind the defence onto a splitting through ball from Teixeira before rounding the keeper with a series of quick, deft touches then a tidy, tight-angled finish. The Serb continued to have a solid performance.
Being the first pre-season match in the heat and humidity of Bangkok and a dodgy pitch, there were plenty of sloppy touches. However, the Reds started sharply and dictated play easily. In fact, Reds players had so much time on the ball at times that it seemed to add a considerable dilemma of choice.
Liverpool nearly added a second in the 24th minute but Danny Ings’ first goal in Red was waved off after a rather dubious foul called on Sakho against the goalkeeper in a goalmouth collision. Despite the lack of luck, the former Burnley striker looked lively in a solid shift.
A few minutes later, Rossiter nearly scored with a header during the run of play, rising to smash a Lambert cross. Unfortunately, he sent the ball right at the Thai goalkeeper.
Sakho would eventually score at the end of the half on a back post header from a corner kick. It was a strong, powerful header that pinged low off the stick and in the net.
Teixeira and Gomez, in particular, caught the eye during the half. The young Portuguese impressed in midfield and from set plays service with clever and incisive play, involving himself in most of Liverpool’s attacks. It was a strong return since recovering from a broken leg. New lad Gomez, playing on the right side had little defending but marauded forward in attack with success.
Second Half
New half, new team, and the skies opened up to unleashed sheets of rain. The second squad included more likely starters, such as Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel, Jordan Henderson, as well as additions James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne. Add possible spot starters, Dejan Lovren, Jordon Ibe, Divockk Origi, and Joe Allen with youngster Joe Maguire, it was the stronger of the two squads.
The fresh squad started with a high tempo that sustained longer than the opening half. Despite the weather, the fresher Reds pressed more aggressively and pushed forward harder and with more purpose.
In the 52nd minute, Adam Lallana received great service from Henderson’s Rabona-style chip, before lashing it home, after a slightly poor first touch in the penalty area. It was a nifty recovery to set himself up for finish across the face of the goal.
By the 60th minute the pitch was well soaked and impacted the roll of the ball, causing quite a bit of complication in all attempts to play down Liverpool’s right side, especially.
Later, in the 67th minute, Origi put one off the woodwork, only moments later blasting one off the keeper’s wrist from a close range but acute angle. In 75th minute, the Belgian pushed an acrobatic volley off the outside of the post on what should have been an easier finish.
Eventually, the new boy smashed home from a corner, in the 85th minute, with a powerful header, kissing the underside of the crossbar. The new striker looked both lively and raw. He clearly has potential but will definitely need patience and polish.
The Reds got only a mild scare after a half an hour, when the Thai All Stars were able to gain a short foothold in Liverpool’s half for a few free-kicks, with one dangerously deflecting off the crossbar. Yet, Mignolet had very little to do, in general, only getting his first touch after 25 minutes.
Both Ibe and Maguire provided some quality pace and incision on the flanks. While Ibe looked to cut inside with greater frequency and looked to goal, Maguire proved worthy of more minutes.
With Milner settling into the deeper midfield role, Henderson proved the second half’s action man, showing his usual industry and some creative linkup play. He was everywhere on the attack, looking for the final pass and delivering service from set pieces. The new captain eventually picked up man of the match honours for the event.
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