Pre Season Friendly
Wednesday 16th July 2008 @ 6.45pm
Grenchen, Switzerland
With Liverpool’s leading Spanish starlets still enjoying their post Euro 2008 holidays, Daniel Pacheco lighted up Liverpool with some raw promise for what may be a colourful Anfield future.
The youngster, captured from Barcelona by Benitez in a deal similar to that of Cesc Fabregas, has been impressive whilst training with the first team and it was his deft touch that allowed Lucas to open the scoring in the 10th minute. He was a constant threat until he was substituted in the 78th minute. The 17 year old put many of his older colleagues to shame.
FC Luzern begin their Swiss league campaign at the weekend so this was a relatively strong physical challenge so early in Liverpool’s preparations.
Three minutes later, Phillip Degen was beaten to the ball by the head of Mesbah who set up Gavranovic to score. It may just be pre-season or Degen may have been right when he said defending was not his strong suit.
In the 37th minute another pre-season starlet, Andriy Voronin, sent a sumtuos chip from 25 yards over the keeper to restore Liverpool’s lead. One for the scrapbook.
The second half was far more dull, the game petering out but Liverpool did have more chances to put the game beyond Luzern. A Lucas shot appeared to have been hammered home only for TV replays to reveal the ball had smashed along the reverse of the net.
Liverpool now turn their attention to potential CL qualifier opposition, Wisla Krakow, who they take on on Saturday.
Goals
Lucas 10, Voronin 37
Teams
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Cavalieri; Degen (Darby 45), Agger (Hyypia 46), Carragher (Skrtel 45), Insua; Benayoun (Babel 45), Plessis (Spearing 63), Lucas, Leto (Aurelio 55); Pacheco (Mascherano 78), Voronin (Kuyt 81). Subs: Hansen, Dossena, Gerrard.
FC LUCERNE (4-4-1-1): Zibung (Konig 46); Zverotic (Lambert 23), Schwegler, Seoane, Lustenberger (Karanovic 55); Ferreira (Gajic 45), Renggli, Hasic, Mesbah (Paquito 46); Chiumento (Ravasi 45); Gavranovic (Schirinzi 55).
REFEREE: Claudio Circhetta.
ATT: 9,500.