Liverpool 4-0 Preston: Reds get first pre-season win

Liverpool have comfortably beaten Preston North End in the reds first pre-season friendly.

Ibe shoots from outside the box to score LFC's second

Mignolet, Toure, Alberto and Aspas all saw their first action in the Liverpool shirt.

FIRST HALF TEAM: Mignolet, Spearing, Agger, Toure, Flanagan, Henderson, Allen, Assaidi, Ibe, Coutinho, Borini.

The reds dominated from the first whistle and it was Coutinho who grabbed the reds first goal in the 13th minute.  He was brought down inside the area by John Welsh, before cooly despatching the resulting penalty.

This all happened moments after Daniel Agger had gone close with one of his trademark long drives.

Assaidi and Ibe were the perfect foil on the wings for Coutinho in the centre, and it was Ibe who scored the reds second in the 37th minute.  He shot from the edge of the area and his low drive crept in to the nearside post to give the reds a deserved 2 goal advantage.

Coutinho was amongst the stars of the first half - picking up from his excellent form in his first 6 months at Anfield.

SECOND HALF TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Robinson, Skrtel, Wisdom, Alberto, Lucas, Pacheco, Sterling, Downing, Aspas

Lucas wore the armband as the reds came out in the second half with all 10 outfield players changed.

Glen Johnson and Dani Pacheco combined well in a move that eventually saw the Spaniard take on 3 defenders. But his hard work didn't pay off as the ball ran over the goal-line for a Preston goal-kick.

In the 64th minute the reds increased their lead.

Sterling and Aspas played a neat one-two, with the Spaniard playing a ball that beat the offside trap leaving Sterling with a one on one with the keeper.  He went around the keeper before firing in to the empty net.

In the 75th minute Iago Aspas was involved again - this time scoring his first goal for the reds.

He fired an exquisite left footed curler from the edge of the box that sailed past the Preston keeper.

The players congratulate Iago Aspas after his goal

Liverpool left Preston with smiles on their faces and the 'Shankly Shield' - awarded to the winners of the fixture.

A good start for Liverpool - and some promising signs from a very young squad.

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