Reds continue pre-season success with Bantam dominance

Liverpool beat Bradford City 3-1 in their second pre-season fixture of the summer.

In a match where Liverpool dominated possession, the Reds looked lively yet again and will surely please Jurgen Klopp before they head on tour this week.

The match was held in honour of former Red and Bantam Stephen Darby, who unfortunately had to take early retirement due to motor neurone disease last September. Funds will be generated for his charity, the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.

The last time Liverpool visited the Valley was in 2001, where goals from Michael Owen and Gary McAllister secured a two nil victory for the Treble winners.

First-half team: Mignolet, Clyne, Phillips, Lovren, Larouci, Milner, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilson, Kent, Brewster.

The game began as you would expect, with Liverpool’s young side dominating the ball and getting an early opener, through veteran James Milner.

A deflected shot off former Everton man James Vaughan set the Reds on course, and just minutes later the Ribena-drinking engine bagged his brace from the spot. Ryan Kent, a wanted man in Glasgow, was brought down after a one-two with Rhian Brewster, and Milner calmly converted. 2-0. As easy as that.

Harry Wilson came close before being denied by Richard O’Donnell, and Bradford had a first-half goal chalked off after Ben Richards-Everton was judged offside from a free-kick.

The aforementioned Vaughan then forced a terrific save from Simon Mignolet, before the Reds grabbed a third.

A driving run from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain released Ryan Kent, who returned it to the former Arsenal man who had his effort blocked. However, dynamic youngster Rhian Brewster claimed his third goal in two matches from a tight angle and the dominant Reds went in at the break three goals to the good.

Second-half team: Mignolet, Hoever, Matip, Gomez, Lewis, Fabinho, Woodburn, Jones, Duncan, Origi, Millar.

Two more youngsters came close in Curtis Jones and Liam Millar before the hour mark. Jones, whose target this year is a Premier League debut, looked particularly dominant in the midfield.

The game petered out towards the end, with Bradford grabbing a consolation penalty when Adam Lewis brought down football league veteran Clayton Donaldson. Eoin Doyle converted past Mignolet and the game finished 3-1, with Liverpool accumulating 77 per cent of the possession.

Next up for the Reds is Borussia Dortmund across the pond, with more first team players becoming available after their Nations League and Copa America exploits.