12,000 pack Prenton Park as Tranmere take on Premier League giants Liverpool

Liverpool....................1

A LATE second half strike from Danny Ings gave Premier League giants Liverpool a narrow pre-season victory over Tranmere at a packed Prenton Park on Friday evening.

The former Burnley hotshot struck in the 78th minute in a run-out which provided a welcome gate receipt boost for Rovers with an attendance of just under 12,000.

Gary Brabin handed starting debuts to summer signings Connor Jennings, Darren Stephenson and Andrew Cook.

Jurgen Klopp – who earlier in the day celebrated signing a new six-year contract with the Reds – gave debuts to Loris Karius, Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Ovie Ejaria.

The first chance of the match fell to the visitors when Ryan Kent saw a 20-yard bouncing effort pushed away by Scott Davies, before the same player curled another attempt just wide moments later.

Rovers responded and on 10 minutes Connor Jennings fed Jay Harris, who blazed just over from 15 yards.

Rushing out of his area, Scott Davies could only shunt a clearance straight to Cameron Branagan, but his long-range attempt to embarrass the Rovers goalkeeper was wide.

Tranmere nearly took the lead on 22 minutes when Steve McNulty glanced a header onto the post following a corner from Liam Ridehalgh.

Davies comfortably held a header from Lucas before Ejaria pulled a shot wide, as Liverpool enjoyed the majority of the ball.

The Rovers keeper was called into more serious action just past the half way mark when Mane fed Kent in the box, forcing a decent save out of Davies.

A rather jolly looking Roberto Firmino then shanked a lazy effort into the Kop as the chances kept coming for Klopp’s men.

Mane showed his turn of pace five minutes before the interval to break clear of the Rovers defence but his rusty shot was just wide of the post.

Both teams reappeared for the second half with completely changed line ups and it was Liverpool forgotten man Lazar Markovic who nearly broke the deadlock, firing just wide from 12 yards out.

Tranmere’s Young Player of the Year Adam Mekki powered a 30-yard free kick over the bar before Ings required treatment for an eye injury following an innocuous clash with Mitch Duggan.

With action at an absolute premium, Markovic was presented with a bouncing square ball 15 yards out in the centre of the goal but side-footed a miserable effort high into the Cowsheds.

Mekki then dragged a half volley wide for Rovers before Connor Randall pulled another wayward effort wide for the Reds in a passage of pre-season mediocrity.

Liverpool should have been in front when Davies pushed a shot from Ings into the path of Markovic, but the Serb was left red faced when his open goal rebound cannoned back off the post to safety.

Ings went close twice with headers before sticking an overhead kick just wide as the bumper crowd looked for something to get excited about.

That moment finally arrived for Liverpool 12 minutes from time when Trent Alexander-Arnold played in Ings, who smashed the ball home on the half volley.

The goal sparked a pyro party in the Liverpool end, with a number of smoke bombs thrown onto the pitch temporarily holding up the restart.

The only remaining action was a full time pitch invasion from a few thousand selfie-taking opportunists as both sides completed what was essentially a fitness work out that probably benefited Tranmere more than their illustrious neighbours.

GARY BRABIN:

A satisfied Brabin waited patiently while a national media scrum mobbed Jurgen Klopp post match, but that was no problem the former Luton Town boss.

He said: “It was pleasing, it was a really fantastic atmosphere. Jurgen Klopp has really lit up the Premier League this year. He’s a real character and he’s built a good squad.

“It was a testing game for us so early in the pre-season and I thought the lads applied themselves really well. Five of the players who finished the game came through our youth scheme so that is really pleasing as well.

“The main objective is your fitness. We worked on things defensively as well. You can have two or three training sessions and you’re not going to be as well tested as we were today. It’s great the stuff we have worked on so far. I thought that the lads put it into practice really well.

“Our use of the ball was really good. We’ve created chances, we’ve hit the post and certainly the first half I thought was really pleasing.

“The opposing manager was really complimentary of the standard and that’s a real plus as well."

Tranmere have signed a trio of attacking players in the summer to reinforce their artillery but Brabin agreed that securing the services of last season’s key performers was just as important.

He said: “For me that was key this season, trying to nail down the (important) players from last season. I certainly didn’t want to be put in the position that I was in when I first came in the club.

“The fans have warmed to one or two of them. We’ve got a few fans’ favourites that we’ve managed to nail down. It’s players that I think will help move the club forward.

“We’ve managed to do that with most of the players but we’ve been able to add a bit of quality as well.

“When I came in last season we only had four players and I had to build a squad quickly.

"As long as the club is moving forward – and I think that has always been the case, we got stronger as the season went on – we feel a lot more confident than what we did this time last year.

"We’re going into the new season thinking that we’ve got a good chance of promotion.”

JURGEN KLOPP:

Klopp had plenty to celebrate both on and off the pitch.

The former Borussia Dortmund supremo signed a new six-year contract at Anfield earlier in the day and before signing autographs and posing for selfies with Rovers staff, he could not hide his satisfaction at penning a new long-term deal.

He said: “I’m excited. It’s a really big honour.

"When I first came here and people asked me, I told them coming here was the biggest honour I could imagine. Now we talk about a long-term relationship.

“Obviously something happened in these eight months and I’m really happy that I can be part of this for a long time in this club.

“I know how the world of football is. I know how everyone thinks, that contracts don’t mean a lot.

"In my opinion they do mean a lot because it’s a clear statement in the moment that you don’t do anything like this when you want to quit early.

“It was difficult and it will still be difficult but in life we have to make decisions, so we made the decision that we stay together.

“When the club asked me about it I was surprised but I thought about it I thought it feels right, so now we are all happy.”