Liverpool headed back to winning ways in the pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory over Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in the Port of Rotterdam Tournament.
Fernando Torres scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt, an instinctive poachers goal on the 12 minute mark as he beat the offside trap and fired past the advancing Shanghai keeper.
It was a game in which Dirk Kuyt received a rapturous welcome as he arrived on the field while new red Ryan Babel (formerly of Ajax of Amsterdam) was treated to a hostile welcome – booed every time he touched the ball.
A relatively inexperienced side began the game for Liverpool with the likes of Insua, Lucas Leiva and David Martin in goal but Liverpool had a decent amount of possession and crafted a number of half chances.
By the time Liverpool’s more senior players began arriving early in the second half the reds upped the ante and captain Steven Gerrard scored a superb goal in the 62nd minute after only 90 minutes on the pitch. Just outside the Shanghai penalty area he controlled the ball and hit a perfect dipping and curling shot – the amount of time he had created for himself it may well have been a free kick. It is clear that despite all the new arrivals, Gerrard is clearly still the talismanic Liverpool force that every other player should aspire to be.
Liverpool looked sharp and hopefully their fitness will continue as they face a stronger test against Feyenoord on Sunday.
Team:
Martin; Finnan (Arbeloa), Hyypia, Paletta, Insua; Leto, Leiva (Kuyt 73), Sissoko (Gerrard 61) Benayoun, Torres (Mascherano 73), Crouch (Babel 61)
Unused subs: Reina, Alonso, Carragher, Agger
watching the games with some diappointment, i would say that if you play like this in the premiership, you would draw, draw and draw. you cannot score more goals. RAFA has to think that the opposite turned to be United, what outcome would be? i don’t think that with the pair of Vorinin and Kuyt, Kuyt and Torress, Crouch and Torress, etc. you would be able to score many goals. you have to think several times that the teams you met during pre-season were somewhat weak in comparision with United and Chelsea. i have two solutions for RAFA: 1) bring quality wingers like quaresma and alves. you have to fight now to bring more quality players in. actually you are very slow, RAFA. 2)play Torress, Kuyt, Vorinin and Crouch together in the games you want many goals. OK? Can do it? All of them have to play together if you want goals in the games against big teams like United and chelsea and you will see the result.
grt. happy that torres scored at last. should get rid of any nerves. where does leiva play?
quite impressive tournament after all. but the arch rivals are united and chelsea. i am not sure if RAFA’s boys could defeat united at all this season. they look much stronger and every player is extremely fast and aggresive. king kenny’s premiership top prediction gives UNITED first and LIVERPOOL second followed by chelsea. Could anyone ask RAFA to take comments of john barnes, steve macmanaman and most recently king kenny into account seriously if he really wants to lift up the premier trophy next year?