It was another routine victory for Liverpool as they wrapped up the UK leg of their pre-season friendlies with a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Liverpool jetted off to the USA with a 100% pre-season record after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Championship side Huddersfield Town secured by goals from Marko Grujic and Alberto Moreno. Having come away with victories against Tranmere, Fleetwood and Wigan prior to their game at John Smith’s Stadium, Klopp’s men were looking to sign off on a positive note before they set out to the Americas. They are set to take part in the International Champions’ Cup where the Reds will be facing the likes of Chelsea, AC Milan, AS Roma and Barcelona.
Here’s our team to face Huddersfield Town tonight! pic.twitter.com/nRCjsapY5h
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2016
SUBS: Alexander-Arnold, Wisdom, Woodburn, Kent, Markovic and Ings on, with Randall, Ejaria, Firmino, Mane, Coutinho and Grujic off.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2016
The game had quite a few talking points from Klopp’s reunion with old friend David Wagner, Philippe Coutinho’s missed penalty and another impressive outing from new signing Grujic. Fans were left raving about Marko Grujic’s after the Serbian turned up with yet another brilliant performance to put forward a solid-case for first-team action for the new season.
? Friends reunited… pic.twitter.com/u97cSMbQyh
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2016
? Liverpool’s pre-season:
⏱ Games – 4
? Wins – 4
⚽️ Goals for – 10
? Goals against – 0 pic.twitter.com/9sNQHn8SVZ— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) July 20, 2016
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grujic. And another knee slide. This boy looks special. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) July 20, 2016
I’m not going to go too far as the teams we are playing are very poor, but, WOW, Marko Grujic is an absolute baller! Top signing, Klopp!
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) July 20, 2016
I mean I don’t wanna get carried away but Grujic has already surpassed Scholes
— Gregoris Gkousis (@Gregoris96_YNWA) July 20, 2016
Grujic & Ejaria, class. Coutinho bit quiet but expected since he’s just returned. Mané looking lively. Good half imo.
— ️ (@CoutinhoFlair) July 20, 2016
Looking forward to seeing how Grujic celebrates scoring a goal in a game that really matters
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) July 20, 2016
2x 45 minute appearances for #LFC. 2 goals for Marko Grujic. Promising start. pic.twitter.com/I09NYsCxPe
— LiverpoolFF (@LiverpoolFF) July 20, 2016
? We could get used to seeing this, Marko! pic.twitter.com/JI7kKg98M4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2016
Yes he’s only played against Fleetwood and Huddersfield but Marko Grujic looks very promising so far. Could be a real steal.
— Jürgen Klopp (@Klopptimism) July 20, 2016
Should Coutinho be our first choice penalty taker? If not him, then who else? Grujic might be in the picture ? pic.twitter.com/xvcLPfx7mg
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) July 20, 2016
However the game will remain much talked about for the moment the Reds’ 18-year-old goalkeeper, Shamal George, made his debut in the 64th minute to take his place in midfield. (Yes, you read that right.) Having made 6 substitutions for the second half against Huddersfield, Shamal George remained the only player on the bench. However an injury to Lucas in the 64th minute meant the Reds were forced into a change when they had no outfield players left. Much to the amusement of everybody around, Klopp called on George to replace Lucas in Liverpool’s midfield for the remaining 26 minutes in the game.
65: Lucas has come off. Who replaces him? No substitutes other than Shamal George, so on comes the goalkeeper! [0-1]
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 20, 2016
You’d think Markovic would try + use these games to impress Klopp. Arguably our worst player in that half even with Shamal George up front!
— Jack Sear (@JackSear) July 20, 2016
#LFC Academy keeper Shamal George playing up front at #Huddersfield due to an injury and already looks better than Balotelli
— Kop Magazine (@TheKopMagazine) July 20, 2016
Not sure we will ever see this strike partnership of Danny Ings and Shamal George again. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) July 20, 2016
Jürgen Klopp has put 18-year-old goalkeeper @shamal_george up front for his Liverpool debut! https://t.co/yYbiVeX6uG
— Onefootball (@Onefootball) July 20, 2016
Shamal George a 16 old goalkeeper gets brought on to play outfield, I’m pretty sure Huddersfield should be offended by that
— The_Lil_Magician (@Lil_Magician10) July 20, 2016
Shamal George is going to get more minutes at midfield for LFC this summer than Joe Allen.
— NTX (@NTXabi) July 20, 2016
Shamal George, our youth goalkeeper, is coming on in midfield. Oh my god.
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) July 20, 2016
On my way to watch my son @shamal_george hopefully he’ll get in today against Huddersfield
— kerry smith (@kerrylou39) July 20, 2016
Never imagined my son @shamal_george to makes his debut as a striker!! ??
— kerry smith (@kerrylou39) July 20, 2016
Given the adulation the 18-year-old was inviting all around, it wasn’t surprising that fans were calling on Klopp to allow George to take a penalty Liverpool had won towards the end of the game. However the German was having none of it as he instructed Moreno to go ahead with it. The Spaniard duly converted from the spot to seal the game for the Reds.
A teenage keeper is playing outfield in a friendly, there’s a late penalty & you don’t let him take it. Moreno needs selling for that alone
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 20, 2016
Wouldn’t mind knowing why fullback Moreno took the pen and not the forward Ings!! Yes it went in and still only pre season but surprised me!
— Neil Mellor (@NeilMellor33) July 20, 2016
Alberto Moreno penalty ? #LFC pic.twitter.com/aYZtF9quPP
— Anything Liverpool (@Anything_LFC) July 20, 2016
I bet the LFC twitter made Moreno take that pen as they haven’t got a goal graphic for Shamal George
— Lüke (@KopiteLuke1892) July 20, 2016
Moreno scored and people still have a go at him hahaha
— ️ (@CoutinhoFlair) July 20, 2016
Another pen for #lfc. Shamal George not taking it – much to fans’ disappointment – but Moreno sends keeper wrong way. 2-0.
— Andy Hunter (@AHunterGuardian) July 20, 2016
Still Moreno is more out of position than Shamal George!
— CM_illustrations (@CMillustrations) July 20, 2016
All in all it was a good outing for the Reds who now set sail to the USA to fulfill further pre-season commitments as they prepare for the new campaign set to kick-start next month.
4 matches, 4 wins. Come on Liverpool. Let’s go ???⚽️ pic.twitter.com/P0sqQCnfe7
— Alberto Moreno Perez (@lfc18alberto) July 20, 2016
Had to stretch to save that one, but in the end another win & clean sheet! ??? I think we’re ready for the US! @LFC pic.twitter.com/A0af2KttSv
— Loris Karius (@LorisKarius) July 20, 2016
