Hertha Berlin 0-3 Liverpool: Reds kick Germany tour off in emphatic fashion
Liverpool produced another comprehensive win as pre-season rolls on, emerging as 3-0 victors away to Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion. Hertha Berlin 0-3 Liverpool. Pre-Season Friendly, OlympiastadionJuly 29, 2017.
Goals. Solanke 15′ (assist – Lallana)Wijnaldum 38′ (assist – Mane)Salah 60′ (assist – Coutinho).
As they continue their pre-season preparations, Liverpool headed to Berlin to take on Pal Dardai's side in a friendly designed to mark the two clubs' 125th anniversaries.
Having taken a 30-man squad to Germany, Klopp only named 22 players in his group for Saturday's clash, with this dropping further as Divock Origi suffered a minor injury during warmup.
This saw Dominic Solanke join the in-demand Philippe Coutinho and a returning Sadio Mane in Klopp's forward line, with the latter making his first appearance since April.
With Mane back in the side, Liverpool will have been confident of vanquishing their Bundesliga opposition, and they certainly made light work of Hertha.
Mane and Can return to Klopp's starting lineup Solanke scores second goal of pre-season on 15 minutes Wijnaldum nets away from home after great play from Solanke Salah adds another following lofted pass from Coutinho Reds seal fourth win of pre-season as Germany tour begins.
Lining up in Klopp's customary 4-3-3 formation, the Reds dominated from the first whistle in Berlin, with Emre Can presiding over the game in the No. 6 role on his return to action.
The German slid a ball through for the onrushing Alberto Moreno on the quarter-hour mark, but the left-back's low cross along the six-yard box eluded Liverpool's forwards.
It wasn't long before Solanke had the ball in the back of the net, however, with the No. 29 shifting between Hertha's centre-backs to send a looping header over Rune Jarstein to make it 1-0.
Mane almost grabbed a second shortly after, with the Senegalese's driving run forcing the ball into the box, but he saw his volleyed strike soar over the bar.
The 25-year-old laid on Liverpool's second, however, following great work from Solanke to win the ball back high up, passing it to Mane who turned it over to Georginio Wijnaldum to tuck away.
Klopp opted to make five changes at the break, sending on summer signing Andrew Robertson for his debut, alongside Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.
Firmino went close to adding a third goal for the Reds shortly after coming on, but his powerful shot continued to rise as it went over Jarstein's crossbar.
The Brazilian then combined with the onrushing Robertson, who sent an excellent cross into the penalty area from the left flank, with Salah unable to send his effort on target from close range.
He was able to put Liverpool three goals up on the hour, though, utilising his blistering pace to latch onto a lofted pass from Coutinho and dink it over Jarstein on the charge.
As the final whistle was blown, Klopp was able to applaud his players after another successful pre-season display. TIA Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Gomez, Matip (Flanagan 75′), Klavan, Moreno (Robertso 46′); Can (Ejaria 58′), Wijnaldum (Henderson 46′), Lallana (Salah 46′); Coutinho (Kent 66′), Mane (Sturridge 46′), Solanke (Firmino 46′). Subs not used: Grabara, Lovren.
Hertha Berlin: Jarstein; Weiser, Rekik, Lustenberger (Pekarik 65′), Plattenhardt (Haraguchi 65′); Duda (Esswein 46′), Darida (Dardai 65′), Skjelbred (Baak 65′); Leckie; Kalou (Mittelstadt 65′), Ibisevic (Stocker 65′). Subs not used: Klinsmann, Kade, Maier.
Next match: Bayern Munich (A) – Audi Cup – August 1.
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