Liverpool kicked off their preparations for the new season with a 7-0 victory over non-league Chester FC at the Deva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds took a two-goal advantage into the interval through a couple of goals from Harry Wilson, which James Milner added to from the penalty spot early in the second half.
Daniel Sturridge also netted a brace either side of strikes from Ryan Kent and Danny Ings in a one-sided contest.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the pre-season friendly meeting between Chester FC and Liverpool. Apparently there is some other game taking place elsewhere today, but Reds supporters will have an eye on events at the Deva Stadium as their side embark on the start of what will no doubt be a gruelling summer of friendlies.
It seems like only yesterday that Jurgen Klopp's men were competing in the Champions League, but here we go again for the start of another season. The Reds make the short 28-mile journey south for the first of their nine summer outings, which will culminate in a home match against Torino on August 7. Then comes the real stuff, with West Ham United up first in the Premier League a few days later.
LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Karius; Clyne, Gomez, Phillips, Moreno; Fabinho, Jones, Woodburn; Wilson, Solanke, Origi
SUBS: Ward, Robertson, Klavan, Chirvella, Camacho, Milner, Keita, Kent, Ojo, Ings, Sturridge
The big team news as far as Liverpool are concerned is that one of their big summer signings, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, is handed his debut. Fabinho's arrival at Anfield last month came as a bit of a surprise, having been so strongly linked with a switch to arch-rivals Manchester United over the past 18 months or so. Today we get out first glimpse of him, while fellow summer recruit Naby Keita will feature in the second half.
One position that Liverpool have failed to strengthen over the summer is between the sticks - a major concern for supporters given that neither Simon Mignolet nor Loris Karius look up to the task. The latter gets the nod today, five weeks on from his howler in the Champions League final against Real Madrid, and it is Danny Ward who will provide cover from the bench.
Adam Phillips is perhaps the most unknown of Liverpool's starters this afternoon, being used alongside the more recognisable trio of Joe Gomez, Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne. Moreno is very much a back-up player these days, but in the case of Gomez and Clyne they are both desperate to prove their fitness after struggling last season, seeing them both miss out on selection in England's World Cup squad.
Curtis Jones is the other youngster thrown into the mix by Klopp, taking a spot in a three-man midfield that is completed by the aforementioned Fabinho and Ben Woodburn. Woodburn is one of two Wales internationals in the starting lineup, along with Harry Wilson, and there are also places upfront for Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke. Of all those in the side, it is probably Solanke and Origi who have the most to prove during pre-season.
CHESTER FC TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Shenton; Smalley, Moran, Howson, Pritchard; Roberts, Burton, Stopforth, Mahon; Hughes, Archer
SUBS: Mooney, Brown, Trialist, Hellawell, Thomson, Murray, Downes, Trialist, Noble, Marsh-Hughes
In terms of the home side, they have included a couple of trialists on the bench. New management duo Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley - more on them a little later - have spent the past few days running the rule over trialists and youth players, so those two unnamed men on the bench could well be playing for a contract today. It does not come much bigger than trying to prove yourself against last season's European Cup finalists!
Jordan Archer and Matty Hughes are tasked with leading the line for Chester this afternoon. The latter is one of a number of players to have joined the club following their relegation from the National League last season, but unlike the others this is his third spell at the Deva Stadium. The 25-year-old returned from Chorley at the end of May as the first new signing made by management team Morley and Johnson.
Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco at the start of the summer transfer window - a surprise move given that he had barely been linked with the Reds; it was Manchester United who had been most strongly touted as a possible destination Fabinho played a direct part in 10 goals for Monaco in Ligue 1 last season, but he is about far more than just contributing to goals.
Chester FC will be competing in the National League North this coming season following their relegation from the National League in April. The Blues finished 23rd in the 24-team league, winning just eight of their 46 matches to claim 37 points. That tally was well below the 49 amassed by Barrow in the final safety spot, and now they have a big task on their hands if they are to go straight back up.
The Blues will be battling the likes of Stockport, Southport, York City, Kidderminster and Brackley Town for an immediate return to the National League. It is down to Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley to pick up the pieces, having been snapped up following their release from Salford City. Marcus Bignot was sacked in April and it initially looked as though Neil Redfearn would join, only for a deal to break down over financial terms.
Johnson and Morley were then appointed - a big coup for Chester, as the pair guided Salford to three promotions in four years, including up to the National League last time out. They surprisingly parted company with the Class of 92-owned club a couple of months back, and have supposedly taken a big pay cut to join the Blues. They certainly have plenty of pedigree, having also won silverware at previous club Ramsbottom United.
The management duo have already made nine signings, most recently bringing in winger Dan Mooney on loan from League One side Fleetwood Town following his successful spell with Chorley in this division in the second half of last season. Mooney, who has four Wales Under-21s caps, is among the subs today but will surely play a part in the second half. He is joined on the bench by a couple of trialists and a string of new faces.
As well as bringing in Mooney, Johnson and Morley have also recruited Grant Shenton, Steve Howson, Matty Hughes, Dom Smalley, Scott Burton, John Pritchard, Jon Moran and Gary Stopforth. This is very much a revolution for the National League North side, with a new-look squad heading into the 2018-19 campaign. Their joint-managers have already proved that they can take a team up; now they have to do the same at the Deva Stadium.
Just like Liverpool, this will be the first summer outing for Chester FC. They finished their previous campaign on April 28 with a 2-1 win over Barrow, ending a tough campaign on a relative high, and they start 2018-19 against Spennymoor Town on August 4. Still a month of preparations ahead, then, with this undoubtedly the toughest of their tests prior to that opening home match.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool begin their pre-season campaign with a short trip to the Deva Stadium. Opponents Chester FC have appointed new management staff for the season ahead, while also recruiting nine new players - Fleetwood Town winger Dan Mooney the most recent of those to be snapped up, joining on an initial loan deal.
Liverpool finished in the top four of the Premier League last season, achieving the feat in successive seasons for the first time since 2009. Klopp has certainly made the Reds more of a consistent force in the English top flight, while also guiding them on that magical run to the final of the Champions League, but he will not want to go another season without winning silverware next time out.
The Reds have strengthened over the summer with the additions of Fabinho and Naby Keita in midfield, compensating for the loss of Emre Can in the same position, and they are now expected to push on in 2018-19. Not for the first time, Liverpool are something of an unknown quantity heading into the new season, though - is a third-placed finish, for example, enough to keep supporters happy?
The initial target for the 2018-19 season will be to add some silverware to the collection - something that they have so far been unable to manager under Klopp. They came incredibly close to doing so last season, falling just short in the Premier League, but the FA Cup and EFL Cup looks their best shot of ending this barren six-year run. Before all that, Klopp will hope to add some more players to his ranks.
A whole host of players have been linked with a move to Anfield in the five weeks since 2017-18 concluded. Whether it be a new defender, another new midfielder or a back-up striker, the Reds are reportedly keen to get some more business done. Top of Klopp's list, though is a new goalkeeper, although reports earlier this week suggested that he has now given up on bringing in first choice Alisson from Roma.
Bringing in a steady number one may well be the missing piece in the jigsaw. Loris Karius, it must be said, did perform quite well when given a run in the side in the second half of last season, but that was all undone with his howlers in the Champions League final. Sadio Mane had cancelled out Karim Benzema's opener in that Kiev final, only for Gareth Bale to come off the bench and leave his mark on the match.
Liverpool did not exactly end last season in the best of form, though, as they won just one of their last five games in all competitions - a 4-0 thumping of Brighton & Hove Albion to hold off Chelsea for fourth place. The Reds had a good season overall, however, and they now look well equipped in midfield and attack, although there was at times a reliance on Mohamed Salah last time out.
The question, particularly when accounting for Klopp's high-energy style of play, is whether Liverpool can sustain a push for silverware on four fronts next season, with the Premier League and Champions League clearly taking priority. They did drift away in the final month of last season, although all focus was on their showdown with Real Madrid at that point so they can be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball.
Liverpool and Chester FC actually attempted to rearrange today's fixtures due to it clashing with England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden. The logistical side of things made that impossible, though, meaning that there may be some empty seats in the 4,500-capacity Deva Stadium. The Reds have, however, brought Wednesday's friendly with Tranmere Rovers forward by 24 hours.
Following this week's games against Chester and Fleetwood, Liverpool then face Bury and Blackburn Rovers in quick succession. Klopp will then take his side Stateside for high-profile fixtures against Borussia Dortmund in North Carolina on July 22, Manchester City in East Rutherford on July 25 and Manchester United in Michigan on July 28 as part of the International Champions Cup.
Liverpool do not finish there, though, as home friendlies against Serie A sides Napoli and Torino have also been pencilled in for the days leading up to their Premier League opener against West Ham United. That is what all this is about, essentially - getting fully up to speed in time for the Hammers' visit to Anfield on Sunday, August 12. Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace conclude a nice opening set of fixtures for the Reds.
With kickoff at the Deva Stadium now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Anthony Johnson: "As first games come I'm not sure the opposition comes much tougher. It's going to be a great occasion and it will be a day to remember for the fans and the players and for me and Bernard, too. It's not everyday that you get to go head to head with one of the world's best managers and it will be quite an experience standing on the same touchline as Jurgen Klopp. There will be a big crowd in, probably the biggest the club has seen for quite some time, and it will be a chance for our lads to test themselves against top Premier League players. We know that for 90% of the game we aren't going to see too much of the ball but it is a perfect game for us to work on our shape and really test ourselves physically against the best. The other stuff will come as we go through pre-season."
Jurgen Klopp: "After the holidays, the boys have to adapt to the intensity and stuff like that - all the things we did in training. So it makes sense that they play 45 minutes. I'm not sure if we have two complete teams because not really all positions are covered. But that's the plan. Go there and get used to proper football again, that's why we do it. So I'm looking forward to it. It's a first little test for us and hopefully we are ready. We always do it out of full training; we don't think too much about the games during the week. So that will be quite intense for the boys, especially with these temperatures at the moment. But it's all good, let's go."
As joint-manager Johnson pointed out in the build-up to this game, opening tests do not come any bigger than this. Chester are very much a work in progress, with nine players being snapped up and a number more being looked at closely with a view to signing permanent deals. Klopp's Liverpool side today is a mixture of first-team regulars, fringe players and academy pros, and you have to fancy them to win comfortably.
KICKOFF! Liverpool's 2018 pre-season campaign is officially under way. Jurgen Klopp intends to heavily rotate his side at half time, so there is no real chance of fatigue. Chester FC, meanwhile, include five academy graduates and two players under 18 in their ranks.
The Blues sporting their all blue strip this afternoon and the Reds are in all red - nothing beats keeping things simple! A reminder that if for whatever reason you would rather following England's World Cup quarter-final tie, that can be found here.
Liverpool asking all the early questions at the Deva Stadium. Divock Origi, one of those desperate to prove himself to Jurgen Klopp during pre-season, attempts to charge down the right but his run is halted before he could reach the box.
SAVE! Divock Origi again looks to make most of some space down the right, and on this occasion there is an end product as he cuts inside and shoots on target with his weaker left foot. Grant Shenton was able to gather down the middle.
Dominic Solanke miscues his shot just inside the box and Harry Wilson's attempt moments later was blocked before it could reach Shenton's goal. The Reds are dominating proceedings at the Deva Stadium, but they have been unable to find an early breakthrough.
SAVE! Lazy play from Harry Wilson and Jordan Archer so nearly capitalised. The striker was played through on goal, but Loris Karius managed to keep out the shot with his leg, sending the ball looping over the crossbar.
Craig Mahon also got a shot on Loris Karius's goal before that big chance for Jordan Archer, so Liverpool not exactly having things all their own way so far. The Reds' only opening so far saw Divock Origi come close to a breakthrough goal.
A nice through-ball from Nathaniel Clyne is latched on to by Dominic Solanke. The English striker looked good value to find the back of the net, only for Steve Howson to produce a fine challenge inside the box.
Seventeen minutes played at the Deva Stadium and Liverpool have not really created a great deal so far. Chester have arguably looked the better in front of goal, with Loris Karius pulling off one big save to keep out Jordan Archer.
A reminder that Jurgen Klopp intends to heavily rotate his side today, as is often the case in these early pre-season matches, so many of those currently on the field will likely make way at half time. Not seen a lot of Fabinho so far.
The match has gone very quiet over the past five minutes or so. Liverpool the team controlling possession, without really doing enough to get in behind. Reds youngster Curtis Jones is starting to impress in midfield.
Very little action at the moment, which has been the case for about seven or eight minutes now. Chester FC have had one chance, which Jordan Archer could not convert, while Divock Origi fired at Grant Shenton from Liverpool's best opening.
Mahon does well to get past a few opposition players before being brought down to the floor by Fabinho. With that, the two sides have a short water break and take on some instructions from the coaching staff.
SAVE! Best chance of the match so far as Divock Origi is played clean through on goal by Curtis Jones, but he is unable to find a way past Grant Shenton. From the corner, Scott Burton had to clear his own deflection off the line.
OFF THE POST! So close to a debut goal for Fabinho. The midfielder's shot from 20 yards hit the inside of the post and was then helped into the side-netting by Dominic Solanke from the follow-up - he should have been doing better.
Liverpool starting to tighten their grip on the game, then, as they hit the post and force a good save out of Shenton. News of a goal for England against Sweden is relayed across the tannoy to cheers from all four sections of the ground.
Chester certainly holding their own at the moment, making Liverpool work hard. There will be no complaints from Klopp in that regard - these friendlies are all about the Reds testing themselves against all different types of opposition.
Ten minutes until half time at the Deva Stadium and we await the first goal. Liverpool have had the better of the chances and came closest to netting the breakthrough via Fabinho's shot, which hit the inside of the post.
Fabinho has looked composed on the ball so far and nearly marked his first outing in a Liverpool top with a long-range goal. The summer signing is expected to make way either during the interval or certainly before the hour mark.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-1 LIVERPOOL (HARRY WILSON)
Joe Gomez sends Alberto Moreno through down the left and the Spaniard opted to go for goal, rather than cutting it back for Curtis Jones. Grant Shenton saved but the ball fell nicely for Harry Wilson to dink it over the goalkeeper.
Klopp will be happy to see his side take a lead into the break, with four minutes of this first half in their first pre-season outing left to play. A nice finish from Harry Wilson, who kept his composure in dinking the ball over Shenton.
Chester send a delivery into the box, which Karius gets his two hands to. A couple of minute of the first half to go, and it is Liverpool who are looking the more likely to add to the scoring.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-2 LIVERPOOL (HARRY WILSON)
Harry Wilson doubles his tally with another impressive finish, this time tucking the ball out of Grant Shenton's reach following an impressive pass from Curtis Jones. Liverpool now have some breathing space ahead of the interval.
Liverpool take a two-goal lead into the half-time interval at the Deva Stadium thanks to a couple of goals from Harry Wilson. A good run-out for the Reds so far, but they were also given one or two things to think about by a well-drilled Chester FC side.
Divock Origi made the most of some space down the right by getting in behind on a couple of occasions early on, but his first real effort was hit straight at Grant Shenton. Chester had five academy graduates, two players aged under 18 and a couple of trialists in their ranks, but they were more than holding their own in the first quarter of the match.
The Blues wasted their big chance to open the scoring when Jordan Archer was played clean through, only to be thwarted by the legs of Loris Karius. Liverpool then started to assert their authority on proceedings, with Shenton keeping out Origi's shot at the expense of a corner, from which Scott Burton had to scramble the ball off the line to prevent an own goal.
Fabinho's shot from the edge of the box came back off the upright as the pressure continued to grown, and it eventually told as Harry Wilson dinked the ball over Shenton after Alberto Moreno's initial shot had been saved by the recently-signed keeper - one of nine new recruits for Chester. Wilson left a further mark on the game by again keeping his cool in front of goal when this time played through by Curtis Jones, tucking the ball out of Shenton's reach into the bottom corner.
BENCH WATCH!
CHESTER FC SUBS: Mooney, Brown, Trialist, Hellawell, Thomson, Murray, Downes, Trialist, Noble, Marsh-Hughes
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ward, Robertson, Klavan, Chirvella, Camacho, Milner, Keita, Kent, Ojo, Ings, Sturridge
RESTART! We are back up and running at the Deva Stadium where, as planned, Jurgen Klopp has completely changed his side. The Reds will go with a 4-3-3 formation that is spearheaded by Daniel Sturridge. Naby Keita is among those to join the fray.
Liverpool's team for the second half: Ward, Robertson, Klavan, Chirivella, Camacho, Milner, Keita, Kent, Ojo, Ings, Sturridge. A couple of youngsters thrown into the fray, while Sturridge and Ings will be keen to send out a message.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-3 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER, PEN)
Daniel Sturridge plays Seyi Ojo through on goal and the winger rounded Grant Shenton, before being brought to ground by the keeper. A clear penalty, which James Milner converted by sending Shenton the wrong way.
All very comfortable for Liverpool now, as they lead by three goals at the Deva Stadium. Klopp will not want the intensity to drop, and that should not really be a risk as those mass changes were made at the interval.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-4 LIVERPOOL (DANIEL STURRIDGE)
Keita closes down Burton and the loose ball falls nicely to Sturridge, who made no mistake with just Shenton to beat. A good finish from the English striker to open his pre-season account. Liverpool are coasting now.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-5 LIVERPOOL (RYAN KENT)
Liverpool bag themselves a fifth goal, and this one will take some beating. Ryan Kent picked up the ball 20 yards from goal and sent if flying past Grant Shenton into the bottom corner. The Reds really starting to enjoy themselves now.
Chester have brought on some fresh legs, adding to the three or four changes they made at the interval. The non-league side have struggled to cope with their opponents in this second half, but there is of course no real shame in that.
More than an hour played at the Deva Stadium and Liverpool will no doubt be keen to add another couple of goals to their tally. Chester have not offered a great deal in this second half, with the tired legs telling pretty much since the restart.
James Milner leaves the free kick to Andrew Robertson, who appeared to be looking for the top corner despite the tight angle. The ball went right through without a touch. The Reds are looking good value for a sixth goal here.
Chester are just trying to keep Liverpool at bay for now, rather than attempting to pull back a goal of their own. A decent run-out for the Reds, this, with Tranmere up next in a few days' time in a rearranged fixture.
I'm sure Johnson and Morley will take plenty of positives out of this game, too, even if their side have shipped five goals. The attendance has been given as 4,396, which is pretty much a sell out, but there are plenty of empty seats scattered around.
CHANCE! Naby Keita gets two bites of the cherry, but his second shot from close range was a bit of a shocker. The ball ended high and wide, with the goal gaping in front of Liverpool's new number eight.
Three quarters of the match played so both sides use the opportunity to take on some fluids. Klopp is telling his players to continue playing in the manner they have been, with a couple more goals potentially there for the taking.
Klopp has managed to give minutes to a number of players today. The German boss has already made clear that he will not be loaning any of them out for the first half of pre-season, as he needs as many bodies as he can until the World Cup players return.
The number of shots have reduced drastically since Liverpool netted their fifth goal. Here is one from Daniel Sturridge, though, racing on to a smart Ryan Kent pass and chipping the ball onto the roof of the opposition net.
Harry Wilson certainly made the most of his start today by netting both of his side's first-half goals, before James Milner, Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Kent joined the scoring in this second period. It is all very one-sided.
SAVE! The offside flag goes up; not that it mattered because Daniel Sturridge - who dragged the shot wide - was offside after Seyi Ojo's shot was saved. Liverpool toiling in search of that sixth goal of the afternoon.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-6 LIVERPOOL (DANNY INGS)
Danny Ings, who has not been moving all that freely, tucks the ball past Shenton following a brilliant touch from Milner. The striker will stay on the field despite clearly carrying an injury, which will be a minor concern for Klopp.
CHANCE! Not quite sure how James Milner failed to convert this. The ball fell perfectly for the midfielder to convert following some good play from Daniel Sturridge, but he sent the shot over the bar from nine yards or so.
Chester held their own for the opening 37 minutes, but Harry Wilson's brace opened the floodgates. It has been a stroll in this second half for the Reds, in truth, but the level of their opponents will steadily improve over the next month.
GOAL! CHESTER FC 0-7 LIVERPOOL (DANIEL STURRIDGE)
A stunning goal from Daniel Sturridge to round off the scoring here. The half-time sub curled the ball out of Shenton's reach from the edge of the box, capping what has been a good individual display.
FULL TIME: CHESTER FC 0-7 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool kick off their preparations for the new season with a 7-0 victory over non-league Chester FC. Harry Wilson and Daniel Sturridge netted a couple of goals apiece either side of half time, while James Milner, Ryan Kent and Danny Ings were also on the scoresheet.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Deva Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us in an hour's time for updates from the day's second World Cup quarter-final between Russia and Croatia.
