Pre Season Friendly
Wednesday 5th August 2009, Bislett Stadium, Oslo
Liverpool won for the second time in their pre season campaign with a comfortable victory against FC Lyn.
Andriy Voronin and David Ngog were both on the score sheet as the reds played in their new white away kit.
The game started off with Liverpool passing the ball about with a quick tempo and an urgency that signaled their intention to add another victory before the season kicks off.
But it was FC Lyn who had the first attempt at goal when striker Davy Angan got in a low shot after breaking down the right flank, but Diego Cavalieri was there to tip the ball around the post.
Liverpool got back in their stride and on 16 minutes Jay Spearing seen a left footed shot from outside the box just go wide.
FC Lyn again looked slightly more dangerous when Liverpool lost possession in the midfield. Diego Cavalieri was called into action with two very good consecutive saves to keep the scores level.
Liverpool began to increase the pressure and saw Andrea Dossena, Lucas and Kelly all having efforts on goal. But the FC Lyn defence held strong.
On 37 minutes FC Lyn opened up the Liverpool defence and had Diego Cavalieri beaten, only to see Jo Berget’s effort hit the outside of the post.
Not long after, Voronin had a chipped effort saved by the keeper and minutes later Kuyt headed just wide from a Ryan Babel pass.
But on 44 minutes Ryan Babel ran into the box with pace and put the ball across the goal line where Andriy Vornin was waiting to nod the ball home from close range, which took Liverpool into the break with a one goal lead.
Rafa made five changes at half time and Liverpool gained even more control of the game in the early stages of the second half.
14 minutes into the second half, substitute Javier Mascherano played a cross field pass to Dossena which a lot of midfielders would be jealous of. The Italian wasted no time in getting into the penalty area and cutting the ball back to where Ngog was waiting to steer the ball into the corner of the net.
Shortly after Liverpool’s second goal, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were introduced, much to the delight of the excellent, vocal Liverpool support.
Liverpool by this time were cruising. Gerrard and Torres combined to set up a chance for Kelly, who’s effort just glanced off the wrong side of the post.
Benayoun later tested replacement FC Lyn keeper Arnar Petursson but the game fizzled out into nothing more than a good training excerise for Liverpool.
The only negative from a good pre season workout for Rafa Benitez was to see Albert Riera stretchered off after slipping awkwardly and injuring his ankle.
But the reds go into their final pre season game at home on the back of a comfortable win.
Goals
Andriy Voronin (44), David Ngog (58)
Team News
LFC Starting XI: Cavalieri, Johnson, Dossena, Kelly, San Jose, Babel, Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Ngog, Voronin.
LFC Second Half: Glen Johnson (Philipp Degen 46), Ryan Babel (Albert Riera 46), Dirk Kuyt (Yossi Benayoun 46), Lucas Leiva (Javier Mascherano 46) Jay Spearing (Damien Plessis 46), Andrea Dossena (Emiliano Insua 60) Mikel San Jose Dominguez (Daniel Sanchez Ayala 60), Andriy Voronin (Steven Gerrard 60), David Ngog (Fernando Torres 60), Diego Cavalieri (Peter Gulacsi 78) Albert Riera (Jamie Carragher 86)
Our Man of the Match: Martin Kelly