Indonesia XI 0 Liverpool 2

In front of a packed and sensational 75,000 crowd, Liverpool enjoyed their second friendly victory and the first on the pre-season tour of Asia and Australia with Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling the scorers. Steven Gerrard started his first game since his shoulder operation and looked decidely sharp against an Indonesia XI in Jakarta.

Brendan Rodgers fielded a strong team with nine full internationals and he didn't have to wait very long to see his side take the lead. Philppe Coutinho pushing forward tried to feed the ball into Luis Alberto, but was fortunate to see the ball ricochet back to him, instinctively the Brazilian chested the ball between two defenders and surged on goal to slot coolly under the advancing goalkeeper Kumia Mega. Downing, after some wonderful work by Enrique, down the left, shot straight at the keeper from close range.

 

Aspas looked for the one-two with Luis Alberto, but the young Spaniard drifted past the closing defender before unleashing a fine right footed drive which flinked the bar ob the way over. Sergio van Dijk hit an excellent swerving left footed drive centrally from distance, which new Liverpool number one Simon Mignolet push round the post.

Aspas after the rounding the keeper was unlucky to have the ball taking a big bobble which balloned his shot high and wide.

 

Raheem Sterling celebrates his winnner

 

After the hour Rodgers made a swave of changes in addition to Gerrard and Enrique been replaced by Allen and Robinson at half-time. Sterling was positive from the onset and hit the woodwork before linking up with Ibe with an electric burst of a pace down the left, which started from outside his own area, where he left two opponents trailing for pace, he then had the presence of mind to pass the ball into the stride of Assaidi, who in turn rolled the ball to the side for Sterling to tap home four minutes from time.

 

Match reaction: Liverpool are a work in progress in only the second friendly of the season, but it was a very workmanlike performance against a team who a few days previous, were beaten 7-1 by Arsenal and chances have to be taken by a team shorn of the talents of Sturridge and Suarez.

One side bar - we looked unconvincing defending corners and concentration levels have to maintained especially as we lack stature.

 

Once again Coutinho looked a class act and is taking up the mantle of responsibility as main play maker, especially when he plays in a more central berth. Once again Sterling and Ibe showed positives and one can't help draw comparisons to the lack of electricity and decisiveness in the play of Stewart Downing.

 

Massive respect to the Indonesian Reds whose rousing renditions of You Never Walk Alone were mind blowing and will never be forgotten.