Fleetwood Town’s first pre-season friendly took place at Highbury Stadium tonight, and they were comfortably beaten by Premier League side Liverpool.
Both teams fielded different teams in either half, showing both manager’s intentions to get their players match fit.
This is how the two sides lined up in the first half:
FTFC TEAM: Neal, Wright, Eastham, Ryan, Ball, Grant, Davis, Nirrenold, Deacon, Cole, Bell. #codarmy
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) July 13, 2016
Confirmed #LFC team v @ftfc: Karius, Flanagan, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Stewart, Grujic, Alexander-Arnold, Markovic, Mane, Ings
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2016
Liverpool fielded a number of players with Premier League experience in their Starting XI, as well as giving debuts to many of their new signings.
It was always going to be a difficult test for the League One side, but they started well with David Ball and Bobby Grant causing the Premier League side’s defence problems from the whistle.
Liverpool grew into the game and created their first chance after just four minutes, with Danny Ings narrowly missing the target with a close range header.
The Premier League team were dominant in possession early on, and their dominance was rewarded when they won a penalty after 11 minutes.
Much to the home supporters’ pleasure, Ings saw his penalty saved by Chris Neal, who was making his debut for the Cod Army.
Liverpool eventually took a deserved lead after 18 minutes. Marko Grugic saw his shot take a deflection and loop into the back of Chris Neal’s net to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Just three minutes later, the Liverpool debutant had another chance, this time rattling the woodwork with a cross-cum-shot.
Liverpool continued to create chances, and Dejan Lovren was unfortunate to see his header saved at the back post by Neal after 25 minutes.
The home side were playing well, but their first noteworthy attempt didn’t come until 39 minutes in, with Jimmy Ryan whistling a long distance strike just over the Liverpool crossbar.
The League One side ended the half strongly, with Bobby Grant and David Ball again causing Liverpool’s defence problems.
The latter beat two Liverpool defenders before teeing up Grant, who unfortunately for the home fans couldn’t divert the cross into the back of the net.
HALF TIME: Fleetwood Town 0-2 Liverpool
Here’s how the two teams lined up at the start of the second half:
SECOND HALF TEAM: Cairns, Jonsson, Pond, Kip, Bolger, Duckworth, Sowerby, Haughton, Osborne, Hunter Nadesan. #codarmy
— Fleetwood Town FC (@ftfc) July 13, 2016
#LFC second-half team: Bogdan, Randall, Wisdom, Ilori, Smith, Lucas, Brannagan, Ejaria, Kent, Woodburn, Firmino
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2016
The second half began in a similar pattern to the first, with Liverpool on top and dominating possession.
It didn’t take long for them to double their lead, with Ben Woodburn capitalising on some poor Fleetwood Town defending to make it 2-0 to the visitors after 53 minutes.
Woodburn was proving difficult for the home defence to handle, and he forced Alex Cairns into a great save after 56 minutes.
The Cod Army didn’t give up, and Bogdan was called into action after 62 minutes, saving Elliot Osbourne’s powerful drive after good build up play from Fleetwood’s captain Nathan Pond.
Liverpool were in cruise control, and they made it 3-0 after 69, thanks to Lucas Leiva.
Just one minute later they caught the Fleetwood Town defence off guard again, and Roberto Firmino made it 4-0 to the visitors.
The game began to fizzle out, but Bogdan was tested once more, with Ricardo Kip forcing the Hungarian keeper into a smart save with a powerful header after 85 minutes.
There was time for one more Liverpool goal, as Roberto Firmino doubled his tally for the night with a neat finish.
FULL TIME: Fleetwood Town 0-5 Liverpool
Man of the Match: It’s always difficult to pick a man of the match in pre-season friendlies, especially when both teams play different sides in each half, but Roberto Firmino looked classes apart from the rest. Obviously this isn’t surprising, as Firmino was a regular in the Liverpool first team last year, but every time he had the ball, Liverpool looked dangerous. His two goals were both very well taken, and very much deserved.
