Liverpool completed their pre-season tour of the Far East with a dominant 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in Singapore.
Jordan Henderson gave the Reds a first-half lead, sweeping home first-time from Harvey Elliott’s lay-off after only 12 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp named a completely different XI for the second half, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara and new signing Darwin Nunez all summoned.
And they extended their lead within two minutes of the restart, Salah’s deflected shot squirming through the grasp of Palace keeper Vicente Guaita for 2-0.
Having lost 4-0 against Manchester United in their previous game, in Bangkok on Tuesday, Klopp will have been pleased to see his side end their Asian trip with a victory. Next up comes a trip to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on Thursday.
GettySalah gives fans what they want
The loudest cheer of the first half in the Singapore National Stadium was reserved for Salah, and he wasn’t even playing.
The Egyptian’s appearance on the big screen was greeted by huge roars from the local fans, who were clearly desperate to see him in action.
They got their wish in the second half and Salah, one of 11 half-time substitutes used by Jurgen Klopp, wasted little time in giving supporters something else to savour.
He needed just 90 seconds to get himself on the scoresheet, albeit with the aid of a deflection and some questionable goalkeeping from Vicente Guaita.
Soon after, he was skipping away from Tyrick Mitchell on the byline, setting up a chance for Darwin Nunez that was saved by Guaita.
Having committed his future to Liverpool’s, Salah’s plans are now clear: He wants trophies, he wants goals and he wants glory.
And if this cameo is anything to go by, you’d back him to get exactly what he wants.
AdvertisementGettyElliott continues to impress
A new shirt number, but everything else about Harvey Elliott so far in this pre-season has been reassuringly familiar.
The 19-year-old is some talent, and if he can remain injury-free, then he should feature regularly for Liverpool this season.
Having been brighter than most against Manchester United in Bangkok on Tuesday, Elliott again caught the eye here. There is something about his game which sets him apart from a lot of other young players; it’s the awareness, the flawless first touch, the way he constantly looks to combine with team-mates.
He did so superbly here, linking up with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner down the Liverpool right.
Elliott set up the Reds’ opening goal, pulling the ball back smartly for Jordan Henderson to sweep home, and should have grabbed one himself, only to snatch at a good chance on his weaker right foot.
GettyMilner the machine marches on
Twenty years and more than 800 games into his career, and James Milner is still going strong.
It says everything about the Liverpool vice-captain’s longevity in the game that he was doing gruelling pre-seasons before some of his team-mates were even born, and that he and Patrick Vieira, the Crystal Palace manager, were colleagues at Manchester City a dozen years ago.
Milner might have left Liverpool this summer, but having penned a new one-year contract, he looks as though he’ll be as useful to Jurgen Klopp’s squad as he’s ever been.
He played right-back in the first half here, and did as he so often does: diligently, competently and with the minimum of fuss.
He isn’t Trent Alexander-Arnold, we know that, but his aggression, energy and smartness will always be welcome in a Klopp team. Even at 36, he has a part to play.
GettyNunez continues his induction
Another 30 minutes or so in the bag for Liverpool’s new £85 million ($100m) signing, and though Nunez didn’t manage to bag his first Reds goal, the signs are there that he is finding his feet in his new team.
The Uruguayan was again deployed as a No.9, flanked by Mo Salah on the right and fellow newboy Fabio Carvalho on the left.
And he was regularly in the thick of the action, denied by Vicente Guaita after a fine piece of play from Salah, and then sending another, more ambitious effort into the Palace keeper’s hands.
Again, we saw his willingness to play on the shoulder of the last defender. He was almost found by Van Dijk with one clipped long pass, and then saw Alexander-Arnold misplace an attempted through ball, when it looked like Liverpool were in business.
Later, there was a lovely swept pass into the path of Salah down the right, and by the time he was replaced by youngster Bobby Clark, 12 minutes from time, the 23-year-old could reflect on another worthwhile workout.
Bigger tests are to come, for sure, but for now Klopp will be satisfied by what he’s seeing from his new centre forward.
