Liverpool’s preseason tour of Australia continues on Monday night, as they visit the picturesque Adelaide Oval to meet Adelaide United. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6:45pm (AEST).
The short tour of Australia has reminded Liverpool and it’s fans of what they are – a big club, yet one confronting harsh decline.
The proof is in the pudding – it was only two seasons ago the Reds pulled a sellout crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which remains to this day the largest audience the club has ever played in front of. That chilly 2013 evening featured Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, and even though the club was at a low point, there remained little doubt of its star quality.
Yet two years on, it doesn’t feel the same, nor did it at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night. Yes, Liverpool came from a goal down to beat a defiant Brisbane Roar, and the home of Queensland pride was turned red for an evening in adulation of the Merseysiders.
But Gerrard and Suarez now are both pages in the history of the football club, while others either deem it unworthy to their ambitions or are perennially injured in pursuit of the club’s own goals.
This may be a harsh assessment of a football club that continues to stir the emotions like few else, and certainly they proceed in pursuit of the golden sky that is inherent within their anthem – such has been the flurry of activity on the red half of Merseyside since a 6-1 defeat at Stoke City in May.
Following on from expected successes in Bangkok and Brisbane, Liverpool sharpen their focus on Australia’s own Reds in Adelaide United. Fresh from a fine domestic campaign, Adelaide will pursue the opportunity to play at the city’s most famous venue with the same relish as their much-fancied opponents.
Following on from their 2-0 loss behind closed doors against the other Premier Legue heavyweights Manchester City, the question for Josep Gombau is less about desired personnel, and more about formation.
Given the desire to take on their opponents, Gombau may opt for a front three of Spanish duo Pablo Sanchez and Sergio Cirio, plus local Bruce Djite. With such an attacking threat, there will be a desire to protect the defence, and so the defensive deployment of Iacopo La Rocca or Osama Malik will be critical to minimising the Liverpool threat.
Ahead of their own FFA Cup and A-League campaigns, the focus for Adelaide will also be about fitness, in the context of building on from last season’s third placed finish.
Liverpool’s focus meanwhile is all about adequate squad rotations. Given the 90-minute involvements of both new recruit James Milner and captain Jordan Henderson, both are likely to start from the bench in Adelaide. While Joe Allen is the obvious replacement in the centre of field, the other man to come in is Jordon Ibe, who is encumbered with many similarities of the now departed Raheem Sterling.
In defence, both Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho are likely to make way for Kolo Toure and Dejan Lovren, while in attack, Danny Ings and Divock Origi will once again be given chances to shine and compete for a first start in August ahead of the impending signing of Christian Benteke.
Sporting a changed strip at home, Adelaide will once again have it all to do against a Premier League opponent. While few expect little other than a Liverpool victory, the prospect of some players’ careers being changed is incentive aplenty to ensure a highly motivated Adelaide United.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Wow. Well done Adelaide. And the scoreboard was troubled tonight. Well done all.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
TAFKAP, duly noted. Sorry, got the wrong letter there :)
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Adelaide United 0-2 Liverpool Channel 9's Sam Squiers now interviewing Jordon Ibe and Eugene Galekovic. It's been a great evening, and Liverpool's preseason tour ends with two victories in Australia, followed by their 4-0 win Bangkok last week against the Thai All Stars. I'll be back on Friday night to call the live action of Manchester City and Real Madrid from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the International Champions Cup. At fulltime in front of a packed Adelaide Oval, it finished Adelaide United 0-2 Liverpool. Good night!
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Adelaide United 0-2 Liverpool Here are the players now exchanging shirts and pleasantries, as they now make their way around the ground. FULLTIME: Adelaide United 0-2 Liverpool
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: What a sight that is... the old scoreboard here at Adelaide Oval illuminated into Football talk - with a worthy mention of "You'll Never Walk Alone". We're into the final minute of added time. It's been a solid effort by Adelaide United, but they've been undone by two pieces of class by Liverpool, the first goal, though, we shall remind was offside. Free kick from Adelaide falls to Malik, who can't get his shot on target and scoops it over the top amidst a see of red shirts. And that's it here in Adelaide! Liverpool go out three from three in their pre-season tour, as they win 2-0.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Three minutes are now in force, as Liverpool seek a third. Liverpool 2-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Change again for Adelaide as Dylan Smith comes on for a minute of action in place of Carrusca, who has been a hive of activity tonight. Liverpool 2-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Offside against Ings, who looks desperate to score. And here is scoring now! Goal for Danny Ings, and it's 2-0 Liverpool! Excellent run by Clyne infield, and Ings stayed onside, and ran around Galekovic,and accurately places the ball into the vacant net, and Danny Ings is off the mark as a Liverpool player. Liverpool 2-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Amazing Adelaide - it's a capacity inside the oval at 53,008. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: Well Cirio unleashes a curling effort from the left edge of the box as he evades Clyne's run, and Mignolet had that covered, but not a bad effort all the same. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
BTW Vas, it's George Mells.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Here is a change for Liverpool, as Joe Allen comes off for Lazar Markovic, who is on his second season at Liverpool following his 20 million pound move from Benfica last year. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Less than 10 minutes remaining at the Adelaide Oval, as Brendan Rodgers refuses further changes as the scoreline remains 1-0. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Another Adelaide change, as a debut is given to George Mills in place of Jimmy Jeggo. Well, Channel 9 have the story of George Mills once upon a time shining Adam Lallana's boots at Southampton. He'll be hoping to not to do so metaphorically here. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'79: Elrich fouls Danny Ings, and the free kick is awarded. On comes Iacopo La Rocca on debut for Adelaide United, in place of Craig Goodwin. Here is Henderson's free kick, and Ings with a free header over the top! He's annoyed, as Henderson found the striker in the near post, and he was free but couldn't keep the header down! Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'77: Poor corner as it is cleared at the near post by Lovren, as Adelaide continue pursuit of an equaliser. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Attempted cross by Jeggo is blocked by Lucas, and it goes out for a corner. Liverpool on alert. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'73: Both good and bad by Allen there, first to rob Elrich of possession, and then to lose it himself as Elrich was in position for that shot. What a goal that would have been. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
CHANCE ADELAIDE! It's Tarek Elrich, who goes just wide with a 20 yard shot past Mignolet's right post! That was close! Goalscorer Milner is off, as Lucas Leiva comes on. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: In the afters of the goal, Origi was replaced by Danny Ings. Here's a yellow card, but Carrusca has gone in hard on Jordan Henderson. Foot in from behind following Clyne's throw. It's a second goal in four days for James Milner. You can question the final result, but no questioning his industry. He's earnt that goal for Liverpool along with Jordon Ibe. Liverpool 1-0 Adelaide United