Christian Benteke scored just after half time in his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
New Brazilian signing Roberto Firmino was also making his first LFC start and showed some promise as the reds beat their opponents at the County Ground.
There was a smattering of LFC youth players involved for both sides but it was Firmino and Benteke who had piqued the interest of most Liverpool fans - both named in the starting line up for the first time this pre-season.
They linked up well in the opening 45 minutes - with only a combination of rustiness and the excellent goalkeeping of Lawrence Vigouroux keeping the scores level at half time. The Liverpool Under 21 keeper has moved to Swindon on loan but showed lots of ability that may mean his long term future could be at Anfield.
Promising 16 year old Trent Alexander-Arnold was handed a start at right back.
Starting LFC XI:
Bogdan, Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Toure(c), Sakho, Leiva, Markovic, Can, Allen, Benteke, Firmino
Two minutes into the game and there was already concern - Vigoroux clattered into Firmino who went down heavily clutching his shin. Welcome to English football Roberto!
Fortunately it was nothing too serious but in the 11th minute the reds did have an injury problem. The bearded Joe Allen was forced off after sustaining what could be a hamstring injury - Joao Teixeira coming on to replace him. Teixeira excelled throughout the game and was another positive beacon of light for the season ahead (assuming he isn't loaned out).
Firmino dragged a shot wide of the goal before the first half met its goalless conclusion.
Within three minutes of the restart Benteke scored a scorcher to give the reds the lead.
Receiving the ball he met the ball with his chest before unleashing a volley from the edge of the box. Perhaps not just a man to get his head on the end of crosses. If it is a sign of things to come then Liverpool fans may have reason to be hopeful that the goal tally will be significantly increased this coming season.
As the half wore on substitutions began to disrupt the game. Swindon grabbed an equaliser with some fingers being pointed at Moreno for some disappointing defending.
By the end of the game the reds had just 5 'first teamers' out on the pitch - but it was one of the other six, Sheyi Ojo, who tried a speculative shot that Vigoroux couldn't quite deal with. It trickled over the line to cast a shadow over what had been a good performance for the on-loan Swindon keeper.
Sheyi Ojo's goal that made it 2-1 to LFC http://t.co/Dpfrbt4MAr
— Anfield Online (@anfieldonline) 2 August 2015
The reds have a behind closed doors friendly this week but all focus now switches to Liverpool's opener of the Premier League season next weekend. The reds will travel to Stoke keen to avenge the 6-1 humiliation we suffered in the final game of 2014-15.
