Liverpool hit five past Stoke in training ground friendly win | OneFootball

Liverpool Hit Five Against Stoke in Behind-Closed-Doors Pre-Season Win

Pre-season rolls on with dominant display

Liverpool turned up the intensity at the AXA Training Centre on Sunday, easing to a 5-0 win over Stoke in a behind-closed-doors friendly. After a week where the club was united in mourning, this was a much-needed session of football for the squad, who now prepare to head east for their pre-season tour of Asia.

It comes just a week after the emotionally charged 3-1 win over Preston, played in memory of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva following their tragic deaths in a car accident. While that fixture was a tribute, this latest outing against Championship opposition carried more of a competitive edge.

Nunez makes his mark with hat-trick

Darwin Nunez was the standout performer, registering a first-half hat-trick that oozed confidence and instinct. His first came from a poacher’s position, rifling home after Dominik Szoboszlai lost the ball in the box. The second was a well-timed run and composed finish after a clever through ball from Szoboszlai, and he completed the treble by tapping in from Curtis Jones’ cross.

Photo IMAGO

It was a sharp reminder of the firepower Liverpool possess when Nunez is on the front foot.

Rio Ngumoha, the much-hyped youngster, continued his impressive rise with a deflected effort to make it four before the interval. Federico Chiesa then capped off the scoring in the second half with the fifth, adding a touch of composure to a match that already felt decided by the break.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz features as senior stars return

Virgil van Dijk featured for valuable minutes, easing back into rhythm ahead of the Asia tour. Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s marquee summer signing, made his first outing in a red shirt, playing the opening 45 minutes in what was his unofficial debut.

Absent from the fixture were Luis Diaz, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister. Their exclusion is understood to be precautionary, and all three are expected to be part of Arne Slot’s travelling squad to Asia.

Asia schedule set ahead of season opener

Liverpool’s next test comes against AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday. After that, it is a trip to Japan where they will meet Yokohama FM. The final fixture before competitive action resumes is a double-header with Athletic Club on Monday, 2 August.

The curtain will rise on the new campaign with the Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace at Wembley, before Bournemouth arrive at Anfield to kick off Liverpool’s Premier League title defence.