Borini bags Anfield debut goal as Liverpool seal win

Europa League 3rd Qualifying Rd Leg 2
Thursday 09 August 2012 - 8:05 pm
Anfield
Liverpool3
0FC Gomel
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⚽️ Borini21'
⚽️ Gerrard41'
⚽️ Johnson72'
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Liverpool 3-0 FC Gomel (4-0 agg)

Brendan Rodgers gets a win on his Anfield debut and new boy Fabio Borini opened the scoring  as the reds improve massively on their first leg performance.

Fabio Borini gets his first Liverpool goal

It was all much more comfortable than last week as Anfield sparked back in to life after the summer break.

With transfer season in full swing we had Daniel Agger playing at centre-back, Andy Carroll appearing as a forlorn unused substitute, Joe Allen watching on from the stands ahead of his medical tomorrow and no Craig Bellamy.

Last week in Belarus Liverpool made FC Gomel look like potential European champions but this time around normal service was resumed.

Whilst some Liverpool players are still returning to full fitness, the passing was much improved - especially along the backline, Jonjo Shelvey providing an important role in releasing the ball quickly to Liverpool's three most dangerous players - Suarez, Gerrard and Borini.

Suarez went closest on 15 minutes - but he fired over the bar after some good build up play with Gerrard.

It was Suarez who weaved the ball along the goalline in the 20th minute, before it deflected in to the path of Borini.  He cooly fired a low volley in to the net.

Gomel did have a couple of decent strikers, which were half-dealt with by Reina - a player who hasn't featured in the reds pre-season games till today.

Five minutes before half time and Suarez' skills had the Gomel defence in pieces, before he set up Gerrard for the easiest of conversions to double the reds advantage.

The second half and Liverpool's domination was even more clear-cut - although it wasn't until the 72nd minute that Glen Johnson's well timed strike added another deserved goal for Liverpool.

Jamie Carragher got a brief cameo towards the end of the game, his 701st appearance for Liverpool.  The crowd also gave strong support for Daniel Agger and the departed Kenny Dalglish.

Smiles all around then at Anfield - a comprehensive win and a game that Joe Allen and the other 43,255 people would have enjoyed.

Team: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel (Carragher 76), Gerrard, Downing, Leiva (Spearing 86), Shelvey (Adam 76), Suarez, Borini

Unused subs: Jones, Kelly, Henderson, Carroll

Goals: Borini 21, Gerrard, 41, Johnson 72

Man of the Match: Suarez

One comment on
Borini bags Anfield debut goal as Liverpool seal win

  1. On the whole an enjoyable game. Borini looked lively and the support, as you say, for Agger was first class.

    Very difficult to analyse in light of the fact that the opposition were poor but hopefully it was good for confidence and fitness.

    Look forward to the friendly now and hopefully set us up confidently for what could be a tricky opener away at West Brom.

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