Liverpool 7 – 2 Blackpool
5 talking points from today’s pre-season friendly with Blackpool at Anfield.
Promising Minamino
Since joining the Reds, Takumi Minamino struggled to impress in his first season but lockdown has been a blessing in disguise for the Japanese international.
According to senior Liverpool staff, Minamino hasn’t wasted lockdown and has improved his English and settled into life in England which seems to have done him the world of good.
Since the start of the shortened 2020 pre-season, Minamino has arguably looked Liverpool’s best player and has undoubtably pleased the manager with his sharpness, impressive footwork and clinical finishing.
With the loss of Adam Lallana, there has been a gaping hole in Liverpool’s central attacking areas but Minamino seemed to fit into the number 10 role nicely today against Blackpool, scoring one goal and assisting Roberto Firmino for another.
The last 8 or 9 days of pre-season will no doubt give Minamino the confidence he needs to make a mark on this team and have a influence on the upcoming season.
Impressive Jones
In the first half, Liverpool looked slow and Blackpool deservedly went into half time 2-1 up.
Klopp needed someone to step up in the second half and inject more energy into the team, Jones was that player.
Working hard at closing players down, running box to box and creating chances, Jones looked impressive and threatening every time he got the ball.
Jones linked up well with Firmino for Liverpool’s fifth goal and Liverpool fans would have been pleased to see him get an assist for the sixth goal with a beautifully weighted pass to Origi for a tap in.
Matip and Origi return
Joel Matip and Divock Origi have been recovering from injuries prior to the match and would have been happy to finally see their names on the team sheet.
Matip looked sharp and composed at the back and Klopp will be happy to have Matip back in the squad as back up to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, particularly since losing Dejan Lovren to Zenit St. Petersburg.
Matip will take confidence from the solid performance in his first game back, especially given he scored Liverpool’s first goal in the comeback win from 2-0 down.
Origi also managed to get minutes under his belt after coming on in the 60th minute, rounding his return off with a goal and an assist.
More pre-season minutes
Jurgen Klopp will have been concerned at the lack of pre-season game time Liverpool had been able to get under their belts having only played two games so far.
All football clubs have had to deal with the unprecedented circumstances that COVID-19 has brought and have been throwing together any matches they can before the season starts.
Liverpool announced the game against Blackpool only a few days previous but Klopp will be happy to have given the whole squad game time, including giving the youngsters the opportunity to impress.
Harvey’s appointment with the barbers
In August, Harvey Elliott spoke to The Athletic about his hair, “It’s not a popular haircut. Some people think ‘why’s he got it like that?’, but I like it,” he said.
“I don’t think Jurgen’s a big fan. Sometimes I’ve come in with it tied up in a bit of a new style and he has just looked at it and started laughing.
“I’ve promised the lads that when I score my first professional goal, it’s coming off.
“Initially, I was going to change it for the new year but then I decided that if I was going to change it, I wanted it to be for something more memorable.
“Hopefully, I won’t have too long to wait. I can’t wait for next season to start.”
Elliott was seen sharing a laugh with James Milner after scoring his first goal for Liverpool, with Milner no doubt reminding the 17 year old of his promise.
