Liverpool’s pre-season is well underway, with the Reds notching up their second victory of the summer after a 2-1 victory over Swiss side FC Lucerne.
Rafa Benitez’s squad is still lacking some key members of his squad, on leave after EURO 2008, but Wednesday’s makeshift side had enough quality to sweep aside the Swiss hosts.
The Reds’ first goal arrived on 10 minutes after Daniel Pacheco, who excelled in his first-team bow against Tranmere at the weekend, weaved a bit of magic around the box before finding the run of Lucas with a sublime pass. The Brazilian deftly finished the move, side-footing beyond ‘keepr David Zibung.
The Swiss side then pulled one back after an atrocious bit of defending from new boy Philipp Degen. Degen lost out on a far-post header and the ball was nodded across the six-yard box where Gavranovic stepped up to knock home a free header.
Benitez will no doubt excuse Degen at this stage, still finding his feet at Liverpool, but the Swiss left-back showed enough touches to suggest he will give Arbelola and Finnan a good battle for the right-back slot.
The much-maligned Andrei Voronin restored Liverpool’s lead on 36 minutes with an inch perfect 16-yard lob. Now go and do it again in the Premiership Andrei!
The second half was all about Pacheco who, at 17, showed some classic Liverpool pass-and-move skills, suggesting he is a huge prospect for the future. Kevin Keegan, Bolton, Stoke et al will all be begging to sign him on loan if he keeps up this form in pre-season.
All in all, a solid if not spectacular game that will do much to help build the squad’s fitness and confidence.
Now, how about signing a world class striker Rafa? Voronin isn’t this good week-after-week.