Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in Singapore on Friday, with Harvey Elliott catching the attention in central midfield.
Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace
Pre-season pleasant (2), Singapore Nationwide Stadium
July 15, 2022
Targets: Henderson 12′, Salah 46′
Elliott impresses once more
Elliott’s 2021/22 season was ruined by a damaged ankle suffered final September, simply when he was wanting like a key participant for the Reds.
The 19-year-old seems to be primed to return to the facet this time round, nevertheless, because the early star of pre-season.
Elliott was deployed within the right-sided No. 8 function in opposition to Palace, a lot in the way in which Pep Guardiola makes use of Bernardo Silva, and he checked out dwelling, providing one thing totally different to when Jordan Henderson performs there.
There’s one-hundred p.c conviction in every part Harvey Elliott does up to now this pre-season. He’s completely determined to succeed now and up to now, the crew has benefitted.
— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) July 15, 2022
It was the teen who supplied the help for his captain to open the scoring and his all-round recreation was slick and composed, as he stored the ball in tight areas and acquired it on the half-turn.
Elliott lacks the blistering pace of Mo Salah to be a pressure in a large attacking function, however he seems to be tailored to deliver guile as a No. 8, in an space of the pitch the place many are calling for a summer time addition.
Jurgen Klopp has described him as a “new signing” after recovering from such a critical setback, and he may very well be an everyday initially of the marketing campaign.
Very important expertise
Henderson and James Milner have by no means been, and can by no means be, the world’s most trendy footballers, usually placing trade earlier than aptitude.
The veteran English pair proceed to be necessary squad gamers, nevertheless, they usually shone in opposition to Palace.
Henderson put Liverpool 1-0 up with a trademark curled end virtually similar to his strike at dwelling to Brighton final season, slicing a commanding determine in a deep-lying midfield berth.
Having just lately turned 32, it may very well be that the skipper is considered as a more practical No. 6 than No. 8 to any extent further, appearing as a robust deputy to Fabinho.
In the meantime, the evergreen Milner’s versatility was out in pressure as Klopp used him at right-back, and he was wonderful.
His vitality ranges and use of the ball stood out, as he once more confirmed that age is only a quantity and that he might nonetheless be doing all of this at 57!
Firmino to begin vs. Fulham?
Roberto Firmino hasn’t been at his finest for the reason that early months of 2020, across the time that he scored the Membership World Cup-winning objective in opposition to Flamengo.
Age has caught up with the Brazilian, with accidents taking their toll, however that is presumably the freshest he has appeared in a while.
Liverpool’s No. 9 seems to be lean and raring to go and his affect in opposition to Palace was noticeable, as he led the road in true Firmino trend.
He dropped deep into pockets of area, permitting room for Luis Diaz and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to get in behind, and his contact and selection of cross had been extra just like the Firmino of outdated.
With Darwin Nunez nonetheless adjusting to life at his new membership and Diogo Jota injured once more, Liverpool’s legendary South American seems to be more likely to begin the season within the Reds’ strongest XI.
It may very well be an overreaction to say that we’re about to see peak Firmino once more – pre-season can usually be deceptive – however there’s a vibrancy to his recreation that bodes effectively.
Davies…no, not that Davies!
For a second, did you assume the lesser-spotted Ben Davies had been noticed in a Liverpool shirt?
Sorry to disappoint, however he was once more nowhere to be seen, having not flown to Asia as he seems to be to safe a transfer away.
As an alternative, it was 18-year-old Harvey Davies who was given 30 or so minutes in Liverpool’s objective, as a result of Alisson and Caoimhin Kelleher‘s absence by way of damage.
He made probably the most of his alternative, exhibiting the kind of distribution demanded of goalkeepers in the course of the Klopp period, in what was an important day for him.
Who is aware of what the long run holds for Davies, and whether or not or not it is going to belong at Liverpool, however this was one for the grandkids to be uninterested about in a long time to come back.
Extra invaluable minutes for squad
In the end, outcomes are largely irrelevant throughout pre-season, with health and rhythm taking priority forward of the brand new season.
Towards Man United on Tuesday, Klopp used a club-record 32 gamers and it was the identical in Singapore.
13 gamers acquired an necessary 45 minutes of their legs, from Diaz to Salah, with your entire crew altered at half-time.
The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Thiago and Nunez loved second-half cameos, whereas children together with Luke Chambers and Bobby Clark joined Davies in gaining minutes alongside some senior stars.
The one draw back is an damage to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who pulled up earlier than the break, however these had been extra invaluable minutes within the legs.
A crowd of fifty,217 revelled in Liverpool’s win – subsequent up, Austria.
