Liverpool warmed up for the start of their Premier League campaign by belting four goals past Socceroos goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak in a Philippe Coutinho-inspired friendly victory over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield on Sunday.
Langerak produced a handful of impressive saves, including a gem to deny Steven Gerrard, but was given precious little support from a rattled back four as Liverpool cut loose.
Brendan Rodgers’s side dominated their final pre-season match with Brazilian playmaker Coutinho the most impressive performer as he scored one goal and had a hand in another.
Coutinho, who will be expected to carry much of Liverpool’s creative burden following the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, was a constant menace throughout as Daniel Sturridge, Dejan Lovren and Jordan Henderson also got their names on the scoresheet against German club Dortmund.
Liverpool, looking to go one better after finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, handed debuts to new defensive signings Javier Manquillo and Lovren while Sturridge overcame a hamstring injury to start in attack.
Liverpool’s passing looked crisper than that of their Bundesliga counterparts in the early stages, and Coutinho created the first opening with a weighted ball for Raheem Sterling who saw his shot beaten away by Langerak.
Coutinho was instrumental in Liverpool’s opening goal in the 10th minute when he played a first-time pass which sent Sturridge clear and he angled a shot past Langerak into the corner of the net.
Dortmund looked rusty and were punished for a lack of concentration from a Gerrard corner five minutes later, with the unmarked Lovren allowed time and space to head home from inside the six-yard box.
Gerrard brought a superb one-handed diving save from Langerak with a curling free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and shortly after the interval the home side put the result beyond doubt.
Sterling seized upon a misplaced pass and found the unmarked Coutinho who swivelled and then placed it into the net past the hapless Langerak to get the goal his performance deserved.
Henderson, who had been full of endeavour and energy throughout, tapped home Liverpool’s fourth from close range just after the hour mark.
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