Liverpool cruised to an impressive 4-0 win over Barcelona at Wembley Stadium
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Pre-Season Friendly, Wembley
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Goals: Mane (16), Henderson (47), Origi (48), Grujic (90+3)
Jurgen Klopp named what looks like being his starting XI for next week’s opening game of the season at Arsenal, with Roberto Firmino leading the attack, flanked by Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho.
Emre Can was joined in a midfield three by Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana, while James Milner got the nod over Alberto Moreno at left-back.
Former Reds Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano started for Luis Enrique’s side, with both receiving a warm reception from the 89,845 crowd – the second largest in Wembley stadium’s history.
Liverpool started well and created chances in the opening five minutes. It was Mane who opened the scoring on 16 minutes. The Reds’ new No.19 showed good feet to slot past Ter Stegen after being played in from Lallana.
Lallana looked good, playing from deep and making runs into the box. Wijnaldum and Can sat a little deeper for the most part.
Barcelona had four chances to equalise as the first half progressed; Messi hit the inside of the post; Arda Turan was denied by Milner’s block; Simon Mignolet made a smart save to stop Suarez; and Lovren blocked as Suarez was about to pull the trigger.
An injury to Milner late in the first half saw him replaced by Alberto Moreno. The Reds were 1-0 up and looked good after the opening 45.
Jordan henderson, Kevin Stewart and Divock Origi were introduced at half-time, replacing Can, Coutinho and Lallana.
It was a blistering start to the second half, with two goals inside the first two minutes.
First, Henderson bundled home Mane’s cross, then Origi finished past sub keeper Claudio Bravo.
It was almost 4-0 when Firmino was played in within minutes from a beautiful ball from Stewart. Mane went close too after he showed lovely feet but curled his shot just wide.
Danny Ings, Lazar Markovic and Marko Grujic were introduced for the final 20 minutes, replacing Wijnaldum, Mane and Firmino. Ings and Markovic flanked Origi up front.
It was Markovic’s delivery from the right that saw Grujic score Liverpool’s fourth of the afternoon, with the Serbian midfielder lofting a header over Claudio Bravo from deep in the box.
This exceptional goal capped a comprehensive display from Klopp’s side, who now travel to Mainz for their final friendly of pre-season on Sunday afternoon.
TIA Man of the Match: Sadio Mane
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner (Moreno 42); Can (Henderson 46), Wijnaldum (Grujic 72), Lallana (Origi 46); Coutinho (Stewart 46), Firmino (Ings 72), Mane (Markovic 72)
Substitutes: Manninger, Randall, Wisdom, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Brannagan
Barcelona: Ter Stegen (Bravo 46); Vidal (Roberto 46), Mascherano (Pique 60), Mathieu, Camara (Digne 60); Busquets (Iniesta 60), Arda (Rakitic 60), Denis; Messi, Munir, Suarez
Substitutes: Masip, Douglas, Mujica, Samper, Alfaro, Vermaelen
Attendance: 89,845
Referee: Martin Atkinson
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