Lively display against Liverpool

The Premier League champions and - until Sunday - UEFA Champions League holders began with the likes of captain Virgil van Dijk as well as attacking trio Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in their first pre-season outing of the summer, providing the tough opposition VfB had expected.

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side were missing Atakan Karazor (fitness), Orel Mangala (muscular problems), Philipp Förster (calf), Marc Oliver Kempf (fitness) and new signing Konstantinos Mavropanos (muscular problems).

Firmino put Liverpool in front after a quarter of an hour in the Austrian town of Saalfelden, where the Reds had brought typically rainy English weather with them. Erik Thommy led VfB’s response in the 23^rd minute, narrowly firing wide of the far post after a spirited run to cut into the box from the left flank.

The boys from Cannstatt looked good in possession for long spells, but lacked the necessary incisiveness in front of goal. Naby Keita doubled Liverpool’s lead just prior to the interval, before James Milner teed up Rhian Brewster to seal the 3-0 scoreline.

Pellegrino Matarazzo: “Apart from the two substitutions we had to make due to injury, it was a positive experience. We gave a good account of ourselves in both halves.”

Jürgen Klopp: "It was a good and intensive friendly game despite difficult conditions. There were two good teams out there today, so everyone can be satisfied.”