A 2-0 victory over Como at Anfield on Saturday evening provided the ideal final dress rehearsal for the Liverpool squad, wrapping up pre-season on a positive note.
Pre-season friendlies can often feel disjointed or lack bite, but this performance was sharp, professional, and controlled from the opening whistle to the end.
The tempo was right, the physical levels looked good, and the attacking style gave the supporters plenty of reasons for optimism.
The blueprint for the upcoming campaign was evident throughout the 90 minutes. The high-press suffocated Como in their own third, forcing repeated turnovers and sustaining wave after wave of attack.
When moving the ball through the midfield, the passing was crisp and purposeful, avoiding the sluggish sideways recycling that can sometimes creep into summer workouts.
Defensively, the backline stayed compact and disciplined, rarely allowing the Italian side any clear sights of goal and ensuring Alisson had a quiet, untroubled afternoon.
Isak looking sharp up front and finally fully fit
Alexander Isak set the tone early on by hitting the post and causing regular problems for the Como backline with his blistering pace, while Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez dictated the flow of the game with clever movement and sharp passing.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute through Cody Gakpo. Jeremie Frimpong delivered a precise deep cross from the right flank, and Gakpo showed wonderful technique to control the ball before calmly firing it into the bottom corner.
Jacquet was immense in defence
Just before half-time, the Reds doubled their lead. A corner was only half-cleared by the visitors, but Virgil van Dijk and Gakpo did brilliantly to keep the attack alive, allowing centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, making his long-awaited debut for the club, to bundle home from close range.
Jacquet looked calm and composed during a very-promising first 45 minutes, before being replaced at the break by fellow new signing Ronald Araujo, who stepped in and helped comfortably secure a clean sheet.
As the match wore on, the intensity never dropped. Ryan Gravenberch struck the crossbar with a thunderous long-range effort late in the second half, and the squad showed impressive stamina by continuing to press deep into stoppage time.
Iraola admits Liverpool ‘need to be better’
Andoni Iraola was happy with Liverpool’s victory, but insists there will be ongoing work required over the next few weeks.
“We needed this feeling of finishing with a clean sheet and winning the game,” he said after the match. “Still, the first half has been better than the second but at least we kept our organisation and our composure. We found a way to finish with a clean sheet. We needed this feeling before we started.”
“We are better than we were last week. I hope next week we are better than we were today. You can say the first half is still better than the second half, but today a lot of players played 90 minutes and they finished with no cramps.
“It’s an improvement but still, especially in the second half, we need to be better.
“We need every player, every time, every minute, every action and that’s the commitment.
“I’m very happy with the attitude of the players. They are training really well. I am asking them to do things that are a little bit different, especially without the ball and I think they are trying to get it.
“We are not perfect. We have things to improve but I’m very happy with their attitude, their willingness to be on the same page and we will get there.”
All attention now shifts to next weekend’s Premier League opener at Newcastle United. With this kind of clinical display, the Reds look ready to hit the ground running at St James’ Park.
