Liverpool reached the ‘final’ of the Premier League Asia Trophy with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon.
Goals from Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi sealed the win for the Reds in the second half at the Hong Kong Stadium.
This was their second victory of pre-season, and while Palace were decidedly less fluent at this stage of the summer, defeating Premier League opposition is certainly encouraging.
Mohamed Salah was the star of the show in the first half, with the Egyptian’s pace and energy giving Liverpool a much-needed extra dimension in the attacking third.
The 25-year-old signed from AS Roma for an initial £36.9 million last month, and given the state of the transfer market this summer, that looks set to represent a bargain for Klopp’s side.
Salah was supported by a host of impressive talents, with Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge particularly bright in the first half.
Roberto Firmino has struggled for consistency so far in pre-season, but looked to be getting back to form with a series of neat flicks and his trademark work ethic in the first half.
Klopp was animated on the touchline throughout, with the German eager for his side to develop over the course of the summer, ahead of a crucial 2017/18 campaign.
Speaking after the game, Klopp said: “This is a trip that is extra-organised. We trained really hard, the boys took [the poor weather well].”
Klopp made 10 changes in the early stages of the second half, with Philippe Coutinho sent on in his new midfield role, allowing the Brazilian to rove around and dictate play.
Like Coutinho, Ben Woodburn has also been operating deeper throughout pre-season so far, and it will be interesting to see whether the young Welshman has been earmarked as the No. 10’s deputy.
Ryan Kent was also in fine form after the break, particularly when cutting in from the right flank to fire left-footed efforts at Wayne Hennessey’s goal.
The winger is expected to leave Liverpool on a season-long loan this summer, however, with Leeds United and Hull City both seeing their offers accepted.
It was another youngster, Solanke, who got the Reds off the mark, picking up Origi’s backheel on the turn and firing a powerful shot beyond Hennessey to make it 1-0.
Solanke arrived from Chelsea at the beginning of July, and looks primed for a breakthrough campaign under Klopp this season.
The attendance at the Hong Kong Stadium was announced as 39,273, and most of these were loyal Reds.
Liverpool’s victory sets up a ‘final’ against Leicester City in the same stadium on Saturday, before Klopp’s squad return to Melwood to continue pre-season training.
