Visualized: Liverpool 1-0 Stoke

As always, match data from Stats Zone and Squawka.


I'm gonna test drive of couple of new sections this season: shot location and chance creation location. Any comments are welcome, as well as any suggestions for other sections. If it's feasible, I'll give it a whirl.

The former idea is via Dan Kennett. As Dan wrote when previewing this season's Liverpool, last season's Liverpool took far too many speculative shots, shots with little chance of going in. That wasn't the case on Saturday, with 17 of 25 shots taken inside the box, and another five from just outside the area – including Liverpool's lone goal. I'm interested to see if that continues.

It resulted in Liverpool putting 44% of its shots on target. Last season's average was 31.8%. Liverpool put a higher percentage of shots on target in just three matches last season: 5-0 v Norwich, 1-3 at Southampton, and 6-0 at Newcastle.

Meanwhile, three of Liverpool's chances came from corners, but almost everything else was created in the center of the pitch: three inside the box, nine just outside the box, and three from deep.

Liverpool's also improved its passing in the final third from last year's averages. Against Stoke, Liverpool attempted 202, completing 149, for 73.8% accuracy. Last season, Liverpool averaged 159 final third passes per match, completing 115, for 72.3% accuracy. They completed more final third passes in just four matches in 2012-13: 1-0 v QPR, 0-0 v West Ham, 5-0 v Norwich, and 1-3 v Aston Villa.

16 of Liverpool's 32 successful tackles came in Stoke's half of the pitch. Liverpool's total – 36 attempted tackles, 32 successful – so dwarfs any match last season that I'm tempted to think Opta changed the definition of a tackle event. Liverpool's highest total last season was 27 (of 30 attempted) in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea. That and the 1-2 loss at United were the only times Liverpool made more than 25 successful tackles last season.

32 tackles. But just look at that large empty area in the middle of Liverpool's half of the pitch. That's some pressing.

Stoke's statistics suggest that Mark Hughes really will try to change Tony Pulis' style. Last season at Anfield, Tony Pulis' side attempted fewer passes than Mark Hughes' side completed on Saturday. Stoke's passing totals in last season's meetings were 190 of 288 (66.0%) at Anfield, 203 of 284 (71.5%) at the Britannia; Saturday's was 337 of 417 (80.8%). Stoke had 37.6% and 36.5% possession in the two meetings last season, but 45.1% on Saturday. Hughes' Stoke took more shots, including shots on target, and created more chances than when they beat Liverpool 3-1 last December. But whether or not that style succeeds, however…

Finally, I threatened to highlight Lucas's performance in the match review, so here goes.



He'll undoubtedly have matches with more passes and a higher accuracy, but what impressed me was his running – look at how many passes were completed in the final third, especially on the right side of the pitch, moving into that space to support Johnson as Henderson and/or Aspas drifted inside – and his duels. Lucas won all six of his attempted tackles, three of his five attempted headers (which is no small matter given Liverpool's weaknesses in the air), and completed a successful dribble (just before creating a chance for Coutinho).

Liverpool 1-0 Stoke

Goals:
Sturridge 37'

Holy wow.

It goes without saying that Liverpool don't win that match last season. Or in any season since 2008-09. I honestly still don't understand how Liverpool won that match.

We've seen this script before, countless times before. Liverpool looked incredibly potent, but were denied again and again and again. Sturridge made the breakthrough in the 37th minute, a fierce, perfectly-placed shot from the top of the box through Huth's legs and around Begovic, but we've seen a one-goal lead spoiled by accident/ineptness/karma all too often over the last couple of campaigns. Unable to get the needed second, Stoke retained a constant threat, especially, unsurprisingly, on counter-attacks and set plays.

The lack of Liverpool goals wasn't down to a too-frequent wastefulness in the final third, whether in the pass or shot, but Begovic playing wholly out of his mind. By full time, the Stoke keeper had made 10 saves. 10! Meanwhile, Liverpool hit the woodwork twice, and had a goal (rightfully) ruled out for offside. The more things change...

It was all set up for the inevitable stomach punch. It nearly happened in the 8th minute, before Liverpool even got going, when Mignolet flapped at Stoke's first corner, ending with a Huth cannonball off the crossbar. That Liverpool's opponent actually hit the woodwork, instead of just Liverpool hitting the woodwork, should have been the first sign that this might well be a different season to seasons past.

Five minutes after that came the goal chalked off and Liverpool's first woodwork strike: Sturridge went a second too early before heading in Gerrard's free kick, swiftly followed by Toure's header off the bar from Gerrard's corner.

Liverpool's first two chances may have surprisingly came from set plays, but after that, Liverpool were unsurprisingly most threatening in open play. The movement from the front four was outstanding: Sturridge dropping deep and playing off the last shoulder, Henderson and Coutinho cutting inside, Aspas constantly drifting across the width and breadth of Stoke's half. Players rotated, players kept moving, players kept showing for the pass to relieve pressure. With Stoke pinned inside their own half, all the width came from Liverpool's fullbacks, while even Lucas and Gerrard both felt comfortable enough to join the attack. That Aspas played centrally, sometimes switching positions with Henderson, but drifting behind and around Sturridge more often than not, is most likely a hint as to how Suarez will be used when the Uruguayan returns from suspension.

But Begovic kept getting in the way, saving excellent chances from Aspas, Enrique, Henderson, and Sturridge before Liverpool's striker finally struck, set up by sustained pressure and a touch from almost everyone in red before Aspas's layoff just outside the area. But despite the breakthrough, it was Stoke who threatened in the final minutes of the half, Mignolet excellently denying Walters's blast, and then Lucas clearing off the line following a scrambled, shambling corner. Deep breaths.

The opening stages of the second half resumed the seesaw in Liverpool's direction, with only Begovic and a couple of narrowly errant shots preventing a second. Coutinho fired wide, Henderson and Sturridge were unbelievably denied, and Aspas headed just past the far post on a corner before Begovic made his best save of the match, somehow getting the narrowest of touches on Henderson's shot, ever so slightly redirecting it onto the post.

Two more saves by Begovic, on Gerrard's free kick and Johnson at the near post, inevitably gave away to Stoke pressure and Liverpool heart attacks in the final ten minutes. Unable to get the needed second, Liverpool were pushed deeper and deeper, desperately holding onto the lead, similar to the first home win last season against Reading, highlighted by Adam, on as a substitute, cheekily shooting from the halfway line, requiring Mignolet to tip over. But the real Stoke chances, the real heart-stoppers, continued to come from set plays.

And it was on a set play that Liverpool gave up a penalty, with Agger brainlessly – yes, I'm sorry Daniel, I still love you, but brainlessly is an apt adjective – handling Adam's free kick. Walters, who had a brace the last time Stoke faced Liverpool, including one from the spot, stepped up. And was ruthlessly denied by Liverpool's debutant keeper. All the feelings. So many feelings.



I still can't believe Walters didn't score. Judging by the celebrations from everyone but Mignolet, neither could the Liverpool players.

That was Liverpool's first win in opening game of the league campaign since beating Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in that 2008-09 season, the first win in a league opener at Anfield since beating West Ham 2-1 in 2001-02. Yes, 13 seasons ago.

Mignolet gets the headlines, increasingly excellent after some shaky moments on set plays and crosses in the first half. Sturridge, still probably not 100% fit, continued last season's goal-scoring pace, the difference in this tight match. Liverpool's front four looked more than fluid, and it'll be even better with more experience; Coutinho and Aspas were the most creative, with five chances apiece, while neither the Brazilian nor Henderson looked out of place on the flank. But aside from the overwhelming love for Mignolet's save, my focus was on Lucas.

We'll undoubtedly cover this in further detail in Monday's match infographic (with links to some chalkboards, as StatsZone isn't working for me at the moment) but 64/76 passes, six tackles, two interceptions, winning 60% of his aerial duels (against Stoke!), and – most surprisingly – creating two chances. He wasn't limited to a holding role either, getting forward to support the attack even more often than Gerrard, although undoubtedly allowed to do so because of Stoke's tactics more than a determined plan for the future. This is the first time since his extended injury where he's looked back to his absolute best for the full 90 minutes. That continuing will make as much difference to Liverpool's form as improvement in defense or more fluidity and potency in attack.

Yes, Liverpool should have scored more. Yes, Liverpool are still all-too-often terrifying on opposition counter-attacks and set plays. Yes, those are not new facets.

But Liverpool won. Somehow, Liverpool won. Liverpool will learn from the experience, and more importantly, Liverpool will gain confidence from the experience. In the first match of the new campaign, that's really all that matters.

Liverpool v Stoke 08.17.13

7:45am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
1-3 Stoke (a) 12.26.12
0-0 (h) 10.07.12
2-1 Liverpool (h; FA Cup) 03.18.12
0-0 (h) 01.14.12

Last three preseason matches:
Liverpool: 0-1 Celtic (n); 4-1 Vålerenga (a); 2-0 Olympiakos (h)
Stoke: 0-0 Genoa (h); 1-0 Wrexham (a); 2-0 Philadelphia Union (a)

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Johnson Toure Agger Enrique
Gerrard Lucas
Aspas Coutinho Henderson
Sturridge

Football football football football. Oh how I missed you.

Wait, what? The first match is against Stoke? Well, so much for the return of football. We'll have to wait another week for that.

Oh, Stoke. Tony Pulis may be gone, but Tony Pulis' players remain. And chances are, even with Mark Hughes in charge, this will be very much like a Tony Pulis XI playing Tony Pulis football. The question, as always, is whether Liverpool can cope with it. You know, for a change.

The first XI of the season, with only Suarez assuredly absent, is always more difficult to predict. Is Sturridge definitely fit enough to start? Will Liverpool use Gerrard, Allen, and Lucas in a three-man midfield, or will Coutinho play as the #10 with two from Sterling, Aspas, and Henderson out wide?

If Sturridge isn't available, at least from the start, the line-up's easier to predict. Aspas as the lone striker, Sterling on the right, and Henderson or Coutinho on the left depending on Rodgers' preferred midfield.

That this match is against Stoke – one of Liverpool's bêtes noires, a physical side who Liverpool's beaten just twice in ten league meetings – seems a harbinger of things to come. How Rodgers sees tomorrow's XI could well be how Rodgers treats most of the home matches against the burly lower half of the division. I think (or maybe, I hope) that Liverpool will be proactive, that Coutinho will be the attacking hub, that Sturridge will run riot, that Aspas will get the chance to play from the right, that Henderson will continue to provide balance and running from the other flank. But I'm nowhere near certain that'll be the case.

Mark Hughes' Stoke seems easier to predict. Other than the addition of left-back Erik Pieters from PSV, it'll most likely be the same Stoke side that we're used to. Something like Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Palacios, N'Zonzi; Walters, Adam, Etherington; Crouch.

Marc Muniesa, the other marquee signing (a free transfer from Barcelona), seems unlikely to feature so soon, used as a substitute throughout preseason. And as always, I'm incredibly fearful of ex-Liverpool players facing their former club. Yes, even ex-players like Charlie Adam, while Crouch's only goal against Liverpool since leaving Liverpool was in Stoke's 2-1 FA Cup loss in 2011-12.

Has Mark Hughes had enough time to beat the Stoke out of Stoke? It's not easy teaching old, ugly, probably-should-have-been-put-down-months-ago dogs new tricks. Obviously, it'd be nice to see that lot try to play some football; it'd seemingly make Liverpool's task a lot easier. Hughes will be under pressure from both club and fans to be more aesthetically pleasing (or, more accurately, less aesthetically offensive), but I don't know how much that pressure will be felt in the first match of the season, away from home, against a side that Stoke's patented brand of rugby has foiled so often.

Liverpool have hosted Stoke five times since the Potters were promoted. Liverpool won two of those meetings – way way back in 2009 and 2011 – while the other three ended 0-0. I'm always afraid of putting far too much stock in one match, let alone the first match of the season, but Liverpool's play tomorrow, and, more importantly, Liverpool's result tomorrow, will undoubtedly be seen as a valid predictor for how the rest of the season will play out.

2013-14 Liverpool Season Preview

This isn't quite a "make or break" season, but we're getting there.

Last season was something of a write-off. New manager, a new playing style, and a handful of new players. All we really wanted was some sort of tangible progress we could point to, to say "yes, there might finally be some light at the end of this interminable tunnel." Which we got, especially in the second half of the season, despite finishing a disappointing seventh.

Summer Business:
In: Luis Alberto (£6.8m), Iago Aspas (£7m), Simon Mignolet (£9m), Kolo Toure (free) = £22.8m
Out: Jamie Carragher (retired), Andy Carroll (£15m), Stewart Downing (£6m), Pepe Reina (loan), Jonjo Shelvey (£6m), Jay Spearing (£1.7m) = £28.7m

If you count January transfers, all of Liverpool's business has been straight swaps. Sturridge for Carroll, Coutinho for Shelvey, Mignolet for Reina, Aspas for Downing, Toure for Carragher, and Luis Alberto for Joe Cole. Spearing, on loan, didn't feature in last season's side, and probably doesn't need replacing in Rodgers' eyes. Each new signing is arguably better than the Liverpool player they're taking over for – except Toure for Carragher, although Kolo's looked a more than decent player during preseason. Just as importantly in FSG's view, each is younger, and is on substantially lower wages without reducing the overall quality in the side. Coupled with January's deals, Liverpool's net transfer spend in the calendar year is around £15m, not counting the massive reduction in wages.

Unfortunately, despite the excellent start to this summer's business, Liverpool haven't added anyone since July 1, with Alberto, Aspas, Mignolet, and Toure all wrapped up before the transfer window even opened.

Mkhitaryan? Nope. Diego Costa? Staying at Atletico on an improved contract. Papadopoulos, or some other colossus center-back? Nope. Competition for Lucas? Incredibly unlikely. Competition for Enrique? Not yet, although there are rumors that Granada's Guilherme Siqueira could be imminent.

If the above is the end of Liverpool's transfer dealings, so be it. The squad is better. And younger and cheaper, but more importantly, better. But it could be even better than it is. There have been too many lost opportunities over the last five years.

And then there was the whole Suarez fiasco. At least Liverpool seemingly played that well. No bid came in from Real Madrid or Bayern, and with Arsenal the only suitor, Liverpool refused to sell. Rightfully so. I'd have sold an unhappy Suarez to Real for £40m. I wouldn't have sold to Arsenal for £140m. You don't strength direct competitors, something Arsenal painfully learned with van Persie last season.

But I'll be honest. I still don't necessarily see where Luis fits into the team that Rodgers is building.

Expected Formation and Suspected Depth Chart:



I truly expected Suarez to leave this summer, and while it may still happen, it does not look likely. The signings of Aspas and Luis Alberto, and the pursuit of players such as Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa only fed into that notion. All seemed signings meant to help replace Suarez rather than co-exist with him.

Liverpool with Sturridge and Coutinho looked a completely different side in the second half of the season. And Suarez looked a different player, one who was beginning to fit into a team rather than being the team's sole shining light: averaging more than a shot less per match after Sturridge's debut – 5.75 compared to 4.6 – but putting more of his shots on target – 2.0 compared to 2.62– with only a small drop in goals per game and almost exactly the same number of chances created per game. Meanwhile, Sturridge chipped in with 10 league goals over 14 games, putting 62% of his shots on target, while Coutinho picked up the slack in chance creation, totaling the same number of assists in 13 games as Suarez did in 33. Only Santi Cazorla averaged more accurate throughballs per match than Coutinho last season.

When you have world class players – and Suarez remains a world class player, no matter his baggage – you make it work. But Sturridge has looked most effective as the spearhead. Coutinho has looked most effective when playing as the #10. Suarez has been vastly more effective in those two positions. Does that mean Suarez is relegated to the flank, where he's frequently failed to impress, or Coutinho is?

The easy answer to that question is "it depends on the opposition." And that will probably be the case. If it's, say, Arsenal away, maybe Liverpool line up like they did last season, with Suarez on the left, Sturridge central, and Coutinho on the bench in order to use three central midfielders. But if it's Norwich or Palace or Hull at home, we could see similar to the team which beat Swansea at home in February: Sturridge and Suarez central, with Coutinho cutting inside from the left. While neither Suarez nor Sturridge looked anywhere near their best the few times each was used on the flanks, using either there remains a possibility, one that may well improve with time. And if one of Liverpool's multi-functional attackers are missing – say, due to suspension – Liverpool have a variety of replacements, the option to change either personnel or formation. Options aren't a bad thing to have.

Brendan Rodgers is building a team full of multi-functional attackers. Besides Suarez, Coutinho, and (to a lesser extent) Sturridge, Aspas can play on the right or as the main striker. Supposedly, Luis Alberto can play pretty much anywhere in attack. Both Sterling and Ibe can line up on either flank. Fabio Borini played in all three attacking positions last season (we'll avoid mentioning how well he did in those roles, mind). Henderson and Allen can play any of the three midfield positions, while I still think Henderson's best position in this Liverpool side might well be on the left.

But, yes, there are still glaring weaknesses. Most notably, another center-back, especially given Liverpool's weaknesses last season – especially in the air – as well as a left-back to challenge Jose Enrique, but also cover for Lucas – unless Rodgers believes that Allen and/or Henderson are more equipped to fill that role than they were in 2012-13.

Could Liverpool finish fourth, even without any more additions? Actually, yes. The squad's marginally better, and had a decent offseason and preseason to build on the gains made from January on. In the last 19 games of last season, Tottenham were only three points better than Liverpool, Arsenal four. Arsenal haven't strengthened (yet) – partly thanks to Liverpool. Tottenham have, but their squad isn't that much better than Liverpool's, and they're ostensibly in the same position as Liverpool in keeping a potentially unhappy talisman, with fewer possible replacements in the squad. Who knows how the Bale situation plays out. In complete contrast to last season, Liverpool have one of the easiest opening halves of their campaign, and could build up some serious momentum by January. Winning begets winning, after all.

But could Liverpool finish sixth? Easily. That's probably the more likely result. And if it happens, it may well be cause for alarm. But it also may well be the fair result. Liverpool have a lot of ground to make up to catch up with Tottenham and Arsenal, let alone the best three clubs in the division. Liverpool could make up a fair bit of that ground and still finish behind them. Like last season, what will matter is progress: if we saw it, and how much of it.

Needed improvements:
• Shooting: Just read this. Also, see this image from Dan Kennett's excellent season preview on Stats Bomb.

• Aerial duels: Only Wigan won fewer last season. And, statistically, Kolo Toure's even worse in the air than Carragher. Gulp.

• Mentality: WBA (a), Arsenal (h), Tottenham (a), Aston Villa (h), United (a), WBA (h), Southampton (a)

Those are the matches Liverpool lost after conceding first.

- Sunderland (a), Newcastle (h), Chelsea (a), City (a), Chelsea (h)

Those are the matches Liverpool drew after conceding first.

- Aston Villa (a), Fulham (a)

Those are the matches that Liverpool won after conceding first. Just two, both in the final two months of the season.

When Liverpool scored early, Liverpool usually ran riot. Norwich (twice), Wigan, Fulham, Swansea, Sunderland, QPR, and Newcastle. The only match Liverpool lost after scoring in the opening quarter of the game was at Stoke, a 1-3 defeat after Gerrard's 2nd-minute penalty; as usual, Stoke's the exception that proves the rule. The only other loss after scoring first was the home match against United, where a ten-man Liverpool took the lead early in the second half but lost 1-2 after a contentious winning penalty from van Persie.

But when Liverpool concede early, Liverpool all too often struggle. The above list of fixtures, and – if, for some reason, we're putting stock in preseason – last week's friendly against Celtic spring immediately to mind. Draws from that situation against the likes of Chelsea (twice) and City at least demonstrate that the side was more resilient than the soul-killing 2011-12 model, but there's still a too frequent pattern to Liverpool losses, especially losses against teams Liverpool should expect to beat. Allow an unlikely opener, then fail to break through a resolute defense despite overwhelming possession and numerous chances. Liverpool will need to continue the slow but steady improvement in this area that we saw as last season went on.

But that's pretty much the mantra for every facet of this campaign.

Liverpool 0-1 Celtic

Goals:
Amido Balde 12'

Well that's not the way this preseason was supposed to end.

Let's go through the list of Liverpool's major weakness last season. Humor me.

• Struggling to achieve fluency against a physical, resilient, tightly-packed defense? Check.

• Still creating chances, but foiled by an outstanding performance from the opposition keeper and/or their own profligacy in the final third? Check.

• An inability to come back, despite overwhelming possession, after conceding first? Check.

• Conceding on the counter-attack, with a lot of blame on a single Liverpool mistake, as well as frightening defending on set plays? Check.

• An inability to cope with a burly frontman? Check, although, thankfully, to a lesser extent than Benteke, Walters, Carlton Cole, etc (thanks Kolo).

We're ready for Stoke next week. Sigh.

Yes, yes, it's still preseason. Don't overreact when Liverpool play well, so don't overreact when Liverpool play poorly. And, admittedly, it wasn't nearly as bad as last season's "bad."

Nonetheless, it's slightly worrying that so many of last season's disappointments reappeared today, against the toughest opposition that Liverpool have faced over these seven friendlies. That's not a welcome sign right before the real football starts.

Don't get me wrong, there were some positives. Toure looked far better at dealing with the physicality of Balde than any Liverpool defender did against the aforementioned brawny strikers last season. Ibe and Sturridge, despite forgetting their shooting boots, were vast improvements on Aspas and Downing when coming off the bench; that Sturridge was fit enough to play 45 minutes today is an excellent sign for next Saturday. Rodgers again demonstrated Liverpool's increasing versatility, with different midfield set-ups in each half, utilizing Coutinho, Henderson, Allen, and Gerrard's adaptability. And Liverpool monopolized possession and monopolized chances, Liverpool just shot poorly – which hadn't been much of a problem through the first six friendlies – while Zaluska also kept Celtic ahead with some outstanding saves in the first half. But, yes, Liverpool did that a lot in draws and losses last season too.

In addition to the above litany of previously seen complaints, I was incredibly disappointed by Aspas' struggles against Celtic's center-backs. The star of preseason so far, the Spaniard conjured next to nothing today; even his first touch completely deserted him, always looking over his shoulder to see where contact might come from. Nonstop movement, but absolutely no end product. That bodes poorly against next week's opponents, and against Premier League opposition in general.

Also, not only is it only preseason but he's only 20, yet Andre Wisdom also notably suffered today. Like Aspas, Wisdom had been one of preseason's revelations, looking surprisingly comfortable at center-back, albeit against much weaker forwards. It may have been my fault, making the amateur mistake of talking up his future on Twitter prior to the match, but Wisdom hasn't looked so at sea since Mirallas tormented him so effectively for the first half of last season's first Merseyside derby.

On the whole, this was still Liverpool's best preseason since 2008-09, winning six of seven, scoring 17 while conceding just twice. Liverpool's squad looks more cohesive, more coherent than last season, especially in attack, even if there are still identifiable holes that we'd hoped would have been filled by now.

And all that said, all that's been said in these friendly reviews, it is still just preseason. We'll know much more about where we stand and how loudly we should scream in a week's time.

Liverpool 4-1 Vålerenga

Goals:
Luis Alberto 31'
Gonzalez 35'
Aspas 44'
Kelly 54'
Sterling 90+1'

A return to normalcy
More of what we expect from preseason in terms of personnel, a more familiar formation, and a more familiar Liverpool – for better and for worse.

Both halves featured almost totally different XIs, unlike in most of the previous friendlies. With just one more to play, against Celtic on Saturday, Rodgers is seemingly putting the finishing touches on full fitness, especially with his hands tied by Agger, Johnson, Skrtel, and Suarez unable to travel (or, more probably, unwilling in the latter's case, but let's not talk about that please).

And both XIs saw Liverpool return to last season's 4-2-3-1 formation, with Luis Alberto then Coutinho ahead of two "sitting" midfielders: Henderson and Allen, then Lucas and Gerrard, rather than the more out-and-out 4-3-3 with two attacking midfielders ahead of one anchor against both Thailand and Olympiakos.

Also all too familiar was Liverpool wastefulness. The visitors bossed the match, from start to finish, and should have had far more than four goals to show for it, too often failing, if only barely, at the final hurdle. Borini, Coutinho, and Gerrard each missed by inches in the second half, Aspas should have won a penalty in the first half, and Vålerenga's starting keeper made some excellent saves, predominately on Aspas. Unsurprisingly, the crossbar also struck again. Or, more accurately, Liverpool struck the crossbar again. And again and again. Aspas, Toure, and Borini all hit the woodwork, Liverpool's fifth, sixth, and seventh strikes off the crossbar through six preseason matches. Seriously guys, it's not funny anymore. It's spooky. And depressing. And slightly infuriating.

Still, it's hard to complain when Liverpool are wasteful yet score four goals. But – unnecessary disclaimer – Liverpool will assuredly come up against tougher defenses; Vålerenga's fullbacks were especially tortured today.

There was also a firm sense of deja vu when Liverpool finally conceded its first goal of preseason. Because it came from a set play, something that happened 17 times last season (26.6% of Liverpool's goals conceded in all competitions). Eight of those 17 were corners, like today's, as Gonzalez eluded Henderson's marking easily, giving Jones absolutely no chance to stop the free header.

The more things change, the more that some things stay the same.

The stars
Allen, Ibe, and Aspas in the first half, Borini, Coutinho, and Sterling in the second half, while Wisdom was impressive throughout.

As mentioned above, both Ibe and Sterling thrived against Vålerenga's left- and right-backs respectively, causing havoc time and time again with both pace and trickery. But, heck, even Downing beat his defender for pace a couple of times so maybe that wasn't quite as impressive as it looked. Still, the kids are alright.

Allen looks back to the form that we saw to start last season, when he was Liverpool's best player through the first few matches (matches which Liverpool admittedly did not do well in): setting up and continuing attacks, spreading play well, getting forward but also doing a reasonable job in the holding role when needed. Who would have guessed that having a healthy shoulder would improve one's ability to play football at a high level?

Today's goal was Aspas' fourth in preseason, to go along with his three assists. In just about 300 minutes of football, which means he's either setting up or scoring a goal once every 42 minutes or so. And, again, he should have had more today, whether through a penalty, when hitting the crossbar, or when twice denied by the opposition keeper. I'm already overusing this line and we're not even into "real football" yet, but yes, chaos is come again. Get used to it.

Finally, Wisdom – still only 20 years old – looks better every time I see him play. Yes, yes, preseason, but his positioning at center-back seems miles better than it looked at right back last season, knowing where to be to cut off attacks. He's quite good in the air (something Liverpool desperately needs), and better with the ball at his feet with each successive appearance. I'm truly looking forward to his development.

The goals
Via the outstanding Feint Zebra:

Luis Alberto | Aspas | Kelly | Sterling

Visit his website frequently and follow him on Twitter if, somehow, you aren't doing so already.

Liverpool 2-0 Olympiakos

Goals:
Allen 23'
Henderson 63'

Yep, it's almost the start of the season
There was only one change to the starting XI which faced Thailand six days ago: Sterling for Borini, with Aspas moving back into the middle. Otherwise, same players, same formation: a 'more orthodox' 4-3-3, with three mobile forwards and both Allen and Gerrard ahead of Lucas as an out-and-out defensive midfielder. Are you sensing a trend here?

Allen and Gerrard's movement
And like against Thailand, Allen and Gerrard were both demonstrably ahead of Lucas, used further forward than either were last season. There were multiple occasions that Allen and Gerrard were both inside the penalty box, that Allen was the furthest forward attacker. And those runs into the box from midfield are a necessary development with the way that Aspas, Suarez, and Coutinho (and, ostensibly, Luis Alberto) play: mobile attackers who drop deep, pull wide, and cover almost every blade of grass in the attacking third. All too often, Liverpool were reliant on Suarez to get into the box and make magic last season, because no one else was in there.

It's no exaggeration to suggest Allen should have had a hat-trick in the first half. He missed a close-range volley after an audacious Aspas backheel as well a free header from Gerrard's deep cross, so we'll have to settle for this tap-in, again set up by Aspas.

If this tactic continues, Liverpool's ability to cope with counter attacks will be a worry. Or maybe, more accurately, "remain" a worry; counter-attacks were worrisome enough last season. Lucas looks fitter than he was in 2012-13, while Toure's quicker than Skrtel or Carragher, but there's a reason that Rodgers relied on two sitting midfielders for almost all of last season, especially after the opening five or so matches.

Iago Aspas
As implied in the last section, Aspas was the other start of the show in the first half along with Allen. The Spaniard is capable of some magic tricks to rival Suarez ("they're illusions, Michael!"): the aforementioned back heel for Allen, a Cryuff turn in the box, always looking to run at, spin, and embarrass defenders in whatever way seems plausible. I think we're going to enjoy the Aspas era. Chaos is come again.

Coutinho on the left
But preseason's usual star was one who underwhelmed in that first half. As we saw at times last season, Coutinho didn't get enough of the ball to truly threaten when used on the left, more concerned with keeping position and tracking back to support Enrique when needed.

That changed in the opening stage of the second half, with the Brazilian determined to come inside to get on the ball more often, highlighted by his immaculate long throughball – reminiscent of assists at Newcastle last season – which Sterling chipped over the keeper but narrowly wide.

I'm very curious to see how this plays out over the course of the season. Will Rodgers stick with the more 4-3-3 formation, with Coutinho 'relegated' to the left (which the pursuit of Mhkitaryan heavily suggests is an option), or will Coutinho be used as his squad number suggests, a playmaking #10 where he's been so impressive? The answer is probably "both, depending on the opposition" but it's something to keep an eye on.

And then it became a testimonial
Until Liverpool's second goal – incredibly well-taken by the substitute Henderson, demonstrating the finishing ability (with his weaker foot!) that we need to see from him – this was actually a competitive friendly. As increasingly demonstrated during the Asia Tour, Rodgers is taking preseason seriously, working the side into full fitness as soon as possible in the hopes of starting the season vastly better than the last campaign.

But then a testimonial broke out, mostly because of Fowler and Carragher's entrances. That's what testimonials are for, after all.

The highlights from there were John Aldridge, in the stands, chortling at Fowler's errant, too-slow tackle; Suarez doing his frustrated hop when Fowler was unable to get on the end of a chipped throughball, followed by Fowler just smiling at him; and a wonderful chance for Fowler – set up by Sterling and Gerrard – ungratefully blocked by an Olympiakos defender. The cur.

A day, and a celebration, deserving of Liverpool's current captain. Thank you, Steven Gerrard.

Infographic - Captain Fantastic [Updated]

In honor of Gerrard's testimonial against Olympiakos tomorrow, here's an updated version of an infographic posted more than a year and a half ago.



As always, and as before, couldn't have been done without the invaluable statistics from LFCHistory.net.

I'm happy to say that there will be further updates of this infographic in the future. Hopefully, for many, many more years to come.