Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's pre-season friendly between
Bradford City and Liverpool at Valley Parade!
This will be Liverpool's last outing before beginning their pre-season tour of the United States, and Jurgen Klopp will be hopeful of more of the same after their 6-0 win over Tranmere earlier this week. League Two Bradford, meanwhile, will be relishing the chance to welcome the European champions to Valley Parade in a match which will raise awareness for the Darby Rimmer MND foundation.
Kickoff is just five minutes away, so let's have a look at the teams before we get started!
BRADFORD STARTING XI: O'Donnell; Henley, Mellor, Richards-Everton, Longridge; Scannell, Palmer, Akpan, Gibson, Patrick; Vaughan
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Phillips, Lovren, Larouci; Milner, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Wilson, Brewster, Kent
Subs: Hoever, Matip, Gomez, Lewis, Fabinho, Woodburn, Jones, Duncan, Origi, Millar, Atherton, Johnston
A mixture of experience and youth in the Liverpool squad as expected, then, including a return for Dejan Lovren at centre-back. That central midfield in particular looks strong for a pre-season game, with Milner, Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain all starting.
KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Bradford get the game underway at Valley Parade!
No surprise that Liverpool have taken early control of possession in this match, with Bradford barely able to get out of their own half in these opening exchanges. Some nice touches and flicks result in Liverpool having a free kick in a promising position...
SHOT! The initial effort from Wilson only finds the wall, but Liverpool keep it alive and Oxlade-Chamberlain blasts a long-ranger comfortably over the crossbar.
Not much urgency from Liverpool in the opening exchanges, but that is to be expected at this stage of pre-season. The Reds are just keeping the ball and patiently probing for a way through at the moment.
Today's game is a chance for plenty of youngsters to show
Jurgen Klopp what they can do, and the likes of Harry Wilson and Ryan Kent will be particularly keen to impress. Both spent last season out on loan and have been linked with another exit, but they are on the brink of breaking into the first-team squad and some good performances in pre-season could see them given the chance.
Bradford are beginning to see a little bit more of the ball now, but still they are struggling to keep hold of it for any significant length of time.
Still not a great deal of goalmouth action in this match at the moment but Jurgen Klopp will be content with how his side are knocking the ball about here.
GOAL! BRADFORD 0-1 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER)
GOAL! Liverpool make the breakthrough as Milner cuts inside and goes for goal from 25 yards out, curling his effort into a crowded box. The keeper looks like he has it covered, but then James Vaughan sticks his head out and deflects it into his own net. Milner will claim it, though!
PENALTY! Penalty to Liverpool as Scannell brings down Kent inside the area!
GOAL! BRADFORD 0-2 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER)
GOAL! No doubt about this one! Milner confidently converts his spot kick, sending the keeper the wrong way for his second goal in just over a minute!
There can be no complaints about the award of the penalty either, with Scannell sliding in from behind inside the box and going right through Kent.
Could the floodgates be open now? Two goals in quick succession for Liverpool suggest they could be in for another big win, and already it is clear that there is a gulf in class between the two sides.
SHOT! Oxlade-Chamberlain now tries his luck from 25 yards and gets plenty of power behind his effort, but it flies a couple of yards wide of the target.
The Liverpool midfield three has been switching around throughout this opening 20 minutes or so, with Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner and Lallana all spending time in the deeper-lying role so far.
Speaking of Lallana, he goes down under a challenge and is slow to get back, which will immediately be a concern for Klopp. It doesn't look like it is too serious, though, and he soon limps back into position.
Good, driving play from Kent as he picks the ball up on the left flank and bursts down the channel before trying to put a cross in. Henley gets across well to block it behind for a corner, though.
Larouci now has the chance to do the same down the left, controlling the ball nicely before working a yard, but the youngster's delivery is poor and goes straight behind for a goal kick.
Another poor final touch lets Liverpool down here as Kent has the chance to play a relatively simple pass through to Oxlade-Chamberlain but puts far too much on it and it runs through to the keeper.
CHANCE! Brilliant goalkeeping from O'Donnell to prevent Wilson from making it 3-0!
It was nice build-up play from the Reds as Wilson exchanged some quick passes with Brewster on his way into the box before trying to lift his finish over the keeper, who stays big to make a fine one-handed stop.
Bradford have their brightest attacking moment of the match so far as Vaughan is given the chance to run onto a pass inside the Liverpool half, but the Reds are quickly back and Lovren concedes a free kick.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Bradford have the ball in the back of the net from the resulting free kick as Richards-Everton steers his volley in after being picked out at the back post, but the linesman's flag is raised and the celebrations are cut short.
Now Gibson bursts forward for Bradford before being brought down by Larouci, who would have certainly been put in the book if this was a competitive game. The hosts are just beginning to build up a head of steam here.
Another free kick cause problems for Liverpool as Vaughan steers his header towards goal, forcing Mignolet into a brilliant stop as he tips the ball against the post. The flag is up once again, though, so it would not have counted.
Again Liverpool are fortunate not to have a player go into the book here as Phillips bodychecks Scannell to stop another attack. Liverpool are just getting a little sloppy now.
Bradford have grown into this first half as it has progressed, and credit must go to the League Two outfit for not collapsing after those two quickfire goals earlier in the half.
SHOT! Milner is hunting a hat-trick now and he tries to get it in spectacular fashion with a powerful strike from range, but it flies well off target.
Lallana picks out a lovely pass over the top for Clyne, who has advanced into the box. The full-back cannot do much more than just turn it back into the middle, though, and there are no red shirts in there to capitalise.
GOAL! BRADFORD 0-3 LIVERPOOL (RHIAN BREWSTER)
GOAL! Liverpool have their third, and it is three for Brewster in pre-season too.
Kent does well to advance down the left before checking back and teeing up Oxlade-Chamberlain, who perhaps does not catch his shot as well as he might have hoped. The keeper can only parry it, and Brewster is quickest off the mark to sneak the ball home from an almost impossible angle.
Again, there is a question over a potential own goal as the keeper got the last touch, but Brewster will claim it.
Just two minutes remaining until half time now, and the customary wholesale changes which come with it. Jurgen Klopp will mostly be pleased with his side's performance so far.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: BRADFORD 0-3 LIVERPOOL
So far, so good for Liverpool at Valley Parade, then, as they go into half time of this second pre-season friendly with a 3-0 lead over Bradford.
It has been one-way traffic for the most part and Liverpool deserve their lead, but Bradford did show one or two signs of threatening in that opening 45 minutes and only the offside flag has prevented them from getting on the scoresheet.
It is the old veteran
James Milner who got the opening two goals for Liverpool in this match, both of which came in the space of less than two minutes.
There may be some debate over the first as James Vaughan glanced the final touch past his own keeper, but Milner's initial effort was heading on target and so he will certainly claim it. There was no doubt over the second, though, as Milner tucked his penalty away after Kent had been brought down inside the area.
A player at the other end of his career added a third and Brewster built on his brace against Tranmere with another poacher's finish, latching on to a parry from the keeper to fire home from the most acute of angles.
In a competitive fixture there may be more of a debate over whether that too was an own goal, coming off the keeper last, but I'm sure no-one will begrudge it going to Brewster today.
There will be wholesale changes in this second half for both sides, with Tranmere completely changing their XI and Liverpool bring on 10 new faces - Simon Mignolet the only player to keep his place from the first half.
The likes of Fabinho, Origi, Matip and Gomez are among the players on show for the visitors in this second 45 minutes.
KICKOFF: Champions League hero Divock Origi gets us underway for the second half!
This is an entirely different game in this second half with those changes, but Liverpool's latest batch of players will be just as eager to impress Jurgen Klopp before they fly out to the United States.
Concern for Bradford after just a couple of minutes of this second half as Donaldson is slow to get to his feet, but he should be fine to continue.
Gary Bowyer will not want to have to make another change this early, particularly as they already have three trialists out there.
Here is Liverpool's XI for this second half...
SHOT! Space opens up for Origi just outside the area and he tries to bend his finish into the far corner, but he cannot wrap his foot around it enough and it drops wide of the target.
Liverpool have not quite enjoyed the same level of control in this second half as they did for much of the first, which is perhaps understandable because of all the changes. Klopp will want more from this second XI, though.
CHANCE! Almost a fourth for Liverpool as Jones clips a teasing ball into the middle which both Duncan and Millar are interested in. Millar gets there first, but the keeper is out well to make an important interception.
Liverpool get in down the left channel again as Jones almost has a shooting chance inside the area, but Nortey gets across well to block it behind for a corner.
It is down that left where Liverpool are getting the most joy in this second half. This time Lewis swings a cross in, but Bradford manage to deal with it.
Lovely play from Jones as he spins away from his marker and plays a low ball into the box which is only half cleared. Nothing comes of it in the end, but Jones looks the most likely for Liverpool in this second half.
More good play down the left from Liverpool as Duncan plays the ball through to Origi, who in turn tries to play Lewis in on the inside. Once again the cross is cleared behind for a corner, though.
CHANCE! Big chance for Liverpool to add a fourth as Millar collects the ball on the left and cuts inside, working space to shoot on his right. He only has the keeper to beat, but he puts it too close to the Bradford shot-stopper.
SAVE! The keeper is called into action again here as Jones tries his luck from range, but this time it is a fairly simple stop.
Just over 20 minutes remaining now and still Liverpool are yet to add to their half-time lead. Bradford would be delighted to hold the European champions to a goalless second half.
SHOT! Origi again tries to bend one into that far corner from outside the area, but once more he starts it too far out wide and it ends up comfortably off target.
Bradford have not shown anything in an attacking sense during this second half so far, but they have been a lot better defensively. That right flank - Liverpool's left - has look vulnerable at times, but they have defended their own box very well.
It is pass after pass for Liverpool, but the keeper hasn't had a great deal to do in this second half so far. They need to show more of a cutting edge in the final third.
Just 15 minutes left for Liverpool to add to their three first-half goals here as they continue to probe for a way through. Credit must go to Bradford for this stubborn second-half defensive display, though.
Curtis Jones has been heavily involved in most of what Liverpool have done in this second half, while Millar and Lewis down the left have also impressed.
Fabinho finds himself in a bit of space and tries his luck from range, but he doesn't catch it and it deflects into the path of Origi, who cannot make anything of it.
PENALTY! PENALTY TO BRADFORD!
GOAL! BRADFORD 1-3 LIVERPOOL (EOIN DOYLE)
GOAL! Bradford are on the scoresheet! After just singing Lewis's praises it is a rash challenge from the youngster as he brings down Donaldson just inside the area when there was no need to make a challenge.
Boyle takes on the penalty duties and smashes it straight down the middle!
LIVERPOOL SUB: A change in goal for Liverpool as Mignolet is replacement by Dan Atherton.
Bradford are on course to win this second half, then, which is something they will enjoy against the European champions even if it is only a pre-season.
Just under five minutes left for Bradford to ensure they do win this second half now as Liverpool continue to dominate possession without much end product.
A reminder that Liverpool jet off to the United States after this match, where they will begin to play clubs a lot closer to their level. Two wins from two is all you can ask for at this stage of pre-season, though.
FULL TIME: BRADFORD 1-3 LIVERPOOL
Two wins from two in pre-season for Liverpool, then, as they ease to victory over Bradford, although they may not be entirely pleased with that second-half display.
All of Liverpool's goals came in the first half, with James Milner scoring twice in quick succession and Brewster adding a third shortly before the interval. There were no more goals for the Reds after the interval, though, and Bradford won that second half courtesy of Eoin Doyle's late penalty.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's pre-season friendly as Liverpool beat Bradford in their final outing before going off to the United States. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for any reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
