Football
Paul Murphy 9y

Ruthless Liverpool outclass Thai All Stars XI in preseason friendly

Liverpool brushed aside the challenge of the Thai All Stars XI with a 4-0 victory in rain-soaked Bangkok.

Lazar Markovic, Mamadou Sakho, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi were all on target as Brendan Rodgers' men demonstrated a ruthless approach in the preseason friendly.

The Thai All Stars, managed by national team coach Kiatisuk Senamuang, were missing most of the Thai Premier League (TPL) stars due to a clash with a full card of fixtures on Wednesday evening.

As a result, there was a big representation from Bangkok United, sponsored by the same Thai media giant as is this friendly.

There was also a healthy representation from Police United, runaway leaders of the Thai second tier.

Liverpool named first and second half elevens, giving debuts to new signings Adam Bogdan and Danny Ings in the first half and James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne in the second.

The first Liverpool chance of the game came as early as the second minute. Joe Gomez crossed from the right and a clever backheel from Markovic tested Warut Makemusik in the Thai goal.

A minute later, the visitors took the lead when Joao Carlos Teixeira put Markovic through on goal. The Serbian calmly rounded Warut and rolled the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

Warut had better luck minutes later when he bravely dived at Teixeira's feet to prevent him from adding a second.

The hosts were struggling to keep up with their illustrious opponents in the opening stages. But the Thais created a chance in the 21st minute when a fine run from Adisuk Klinkosum was ended by Teixeira's crude challenge. Jakkapan Pornsai stepped up to take the free kick from 30 yards out but floated it just too high.

Warut was soon in the thick of the action again when he pulled off an impressive double save. After a fine Liverpool move, he denied Ings and then deflected Teixeira's effort from the rebound over the bar.

Teixeira's corner then broke to Sakho but he was controversially penalised for a challenge on Warut before Ings knocked the ball into the net.

The Thais threatened briefly with a corner and then a free kick on the left but both came to nothing. Warut then produced a sensational save to deny Liverpool a second. Jordan Rossiter met Rickie Lambert's cross from the right with a powerful header from eight yards but the Bangkok United keeper somehow blocked it with enough power to push it wide.

But Liverpool deservedly doubled their lead when Sakho rose to power Teixeira's corner in off the post in the 41st minute. Defender Puttinan Wannasri will be disappointed as he failed to protect the post he was guarding.

The All Stars had an immediate chance to pull one back when Jakkapan's corner reached Piyachart Thamaphun on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, the Port FC full-back struck his left-footed effort well off target.

A heavy rain storm broke out at half time. So conditions were quite different when the teams came out for the second period.

The first chance of the half came when Milner's smart low cross from the right almost found Adam Lallana at the far post. But Warut was once again alert to the danger and got in ahead of the former Southampton man.

Minutes later, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson chipped the ball through and Lallana took a touch before smashing the ball into the corner with his left foot.

The hosts soon had a lucky escape when Jordon Ibe just failed to connect with Joe Maguire's cross from the left wing. Henderson was peeved with the referee after being penalised for the second time for what appeared a fair challenge. The Liverpool captain seemingly gesticulating to the official that they had come for business not pleasure.

The Liverpool skipper then almost added a fourth but his cheeky chip from the edge of the box was inches too high.

The visitors kept up the pressure and Belgian striker Origi struck a shot against the outside of the post before being denied by substitute keeper Anusit Termee.

Milner was then denied by a fine block as Rodgers' men went for the throat. Origi hit the woodwork again with 15 minutes remaining. But it was the Thai All Stars turn to hit the post minutes later, after a deflection from Pakorn Parmpak's corner.

However, it was Origi who had the last laugh when he added a fourth for Liverpool, with a header from Henderson's corner.

In the end, the Thai All stars were comprehensively outclassed and Liverpool showed a serious approach that bodes well for the season ahead.

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