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Pre-season Friendlies
Jul 29, 2017 at 5pm UK
 
LL

0-3

 
FT(HT: 0-2)
Solanke (15'), Wijnaldum (38'), Salah (62')

Liverpool ease past Hertha Berlin to continue unbeaten pre-season

:Headline: Result: Liverpool ease past Hertha Berlin to continue unbeaten pre-season: ID:303726: from db_amp
Liverpool ease to a 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin in pre-season courtesy of goals from Dominic Solanke, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool have cruised to a 3-0 victory over Hertha Berlin in a pre-season friendly at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin this afternoon.

First-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Georginio Wijnaldum put the visitors in control at the break, and a third from Mohamed Salah ended the match as a contest as the Reds extended their unbeaten record in pre-season.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp handed a first start since April to fit-again Sadio Mane, while Philippe Coutinho was notably given the captain's armband amid fierce speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.

It was Hertha who had the first sights of goal, though, with Mitchell Weiser dragging one shot wide of the near post before Vladimir Darida stung the palms of Simon Mignolet with a powerful drive from just outside the area.

Liverpool had been forced into a last-minute change to their starting lineup when Divock Origi felt his hamstring in the warm-up, but Solanke proved to be an adequate replacement when he broke the deadlock after 15 minutes, drifting away from his marker before looping a header over the goalkeeper from Adam Lallana's clipped delivery.

Mane almost marked his return with a goal midway through the half when he got a couple of lucky ricochets in a row to break into the box, only to fire his volley over the crossbar when he should have done better.

Hertha had their first clear chance to equalise shortly after the half-hour mark when the tricky Weiser escaped the attentions of Ragnar Klavan down the right flank before rolling the ball back for Ondrej Duda, whose side-footed finish was deflected behind for a corner.

The hosts came close again shortly afterwards when Marvin Plattenhardt rippled the top of the netting with a 25-yard free kick, but Liverpool doubled their advantage just a minute later to take full control of the game.

Solanke was again pivotal in the goal, winning possession deep inside the Hertha half before playing the ball in to Mane, who in turn laid it off for Wijnaldum to roll his finish into the bottom corner from just outside the area.

Klopp's five half-time changes included a debut for new signing Andrew Robertson, and the £10m arrival from Hull City tested the keeper within two minutes of his introduction with a first-time effort from 25 yards.

The full-back was found lacking on his first defensive test, though, with Weiser beating him inside the box before teeing up Alexander Esswein, who drew a save from Mignolet with a powerful strike.

Liverpool responded with an opening of their own when Roberto Firmino's drive needed to be tipped over, and they should have had a third shortly afterwards when Robertson's overlapping run down the left resulted in a low ball across the face of goal which Salah could not convert at the far post.

Salah did get his name on the scoresheet just past the hour mark, though, and as was the case in the Premier League Asia Trophy final win over Leicester City it came as a result of some exquisite link-up play with Coutinho.

The Brazilian playmaker split the Hertha defence with a through-ball from deep, and with Rune Jarstein caught in no-man's land Salah lifted his finish over the keeper and into the empty net.

Coutinho and Salah combined again moments later to release Firmino down the left channel, but the Brazilian also attempted a chipped finish and this time it was too ambitious as he lifted the ball over the crossbar.

A raft of Hertha changes affected the rhythm of the game as the second half progressed, but Liverpool did come close to a fourth goal when Salah picked up a stray pass before finding Sturridge, who saw his low strike turned wide of the near post.

Mignolet was forced into one more routine stop to turn a Valentin Stocker free kick over the crossbar as Liverpool comfortably saw out the win to make it five victories and one draw from their six pre-season outings so far.

The Reds next face Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup on Tuesday before taking on either Atletico Madrid or Napoli in the final or third-place playoff a day later.

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