Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says he was delighted with the work rate of his players in their opening pre-season friendly of the summer at Preston North End on Saturday.
Video hosted by YouTube, not uploaded by This Is Anfield.
Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners at Deepdale under sweltering conditions in the summer sun. Goals from Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Ibe, Raheem Sterling and Iago Aspas sealed the victory for the Reds.
Watch all the goals, see the line-ups and read the match report here >>>
Rodgers told LFC TV, “The players have been back for 11 days now and I thought their work-rate, quality and intensity in the game was very good. So I’m very pleased.
“Mignolet was very confident and very composed. He had a great day today. Everything he did, he did it well. And he’s already integrated really well and I thought he was solid.
“Toure is a very experienced professional. I was actually watching him last night on ESPN when he played for Arsenal at Anfield in the 2003-04 season. So he’s been around for a long time and he’s a wonderful player. He’s got great experience and he defends really well.
“Then in the second half I thought the two boys did really well. Alberto fits into the mould of what we’re looking to do here. We want technically gifted players who work hard and some of his touches were fantastic. He’s incisive with his passing. And so I’m very pleased with him.
“Iago works hard; he’s got a trick in and around the box and he excites supporters. He’s a good guy and he works very hard for the supporters.”
Liverpool now fly out to the Far East for a friendly against an Indonesian X1 next Saturday, before more friendlies against Melbourne Victory, Thailand, Olympiakos, Valerenga and Celtic.
“It’s very important for a club like Liverpool to travel worldwide and see our supporters,” added Rodgers.
“It’s going to be an exhausting trip but we’ve had a couple of weeks here to get some work in.
“So we’re looking forward to bringing the club and the team over to Asia and the players and staff are all looking forward to it.”
You can still vote for your Man of the Match against Preston and read what fans and players had to say after yesterday’s win.
Fan Comments