James Milner and Danny Ings were on target for Liverpool as they completed the Australian leg of their pre-season tour with a 2-0 victory against Adelaide United.
Following wins against Thai All Stars and Brisbane Roar, Brendan Rodgers named a strong starting 11 they looked to continue their 100 per cent tour record.
As well as Milner and Ings, fellow England internationals Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana were also handed run-outs from the start.
England Under-19s defender Joe Gomez played the first 45 minutes
Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe – Under-19s and Under-20s internationals respectively – were also given the chance to impress from the off.
But it was the experience of Milner that helped the Reds made the breakthrough, after a stubborn Adelaide side kept the 18-time English champions at bay for two thirds of the game.
However, Liverpool’s persistence paid off as, on 67 minutes, Milner latched on to Ibe’s perfectly weighted ball into the box and fired home with his left foot.
Gomez, who has impressed in each of his tour outings since signing from Charlton in June, turned in another composed performance in his 45 minutes on the pitch.
And as well as supplying the pass that led to the opening goal, Gomez’s fellow Young Lion Ibe also caught the eye as he looked to the fill the void left by Raheem Sterling.
The lively winger proved a threat throughout and tested Adelaide stopper Eugene Galekovic with a close-range header.
England forward Danny Ings scored his first goal for Liverpool
Milner and Lallana both went close again before substitute Ings scored Liverpool’s second – and his first for the club since signing from Burnley in June.
And as with the opener, it was another England man who created it.
Clyne, who arrived from Southampton in July, strode forward and down the right flank.
He played Ings in and the England Under-21s forward took one calm touch to take the ball past the onrushing Galekovic and tapped home to seal the win.
More than 53,000 turned out to watch Liverpool take on Adelaide
Liverpool have one more match to play on their tour of Asia and Australia.
Next up for Brendan Rodgers’ side is a trip to Kuala Lumpur to take on a Malaysia XI on Friday 24 July.
Following that they return to Europe to play two more friendlies – against HJK Helsinki and Swindon Town on 1 and 2 August respectively.
They kick off their Premier League season at Stoke City on Sunday 9 August.
