Liverpool were looking to get back to winning ways when they travelled up the North-West coast to face Preston North End in their second pre-season friendly.
After losing to Brondby in their first game of the summer, Brendan Rodgers's side came back from a goal down today to see off the Lilywhites 2-1 at Deepdale.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all! Just half an hour until kickoff at Deepdale and there's plenty to discuss before we get underway in this pre-season friendly.
Just quickly, before we take a closer look at the Preston-Liverpool game, here's some links to other live commentaries this afternoon. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are also in action too at 3pm. Arsenal take on Boreham Wood, while Chelsea are up against AFC Wimbledon.
Right, let's take a look at the two teams who are starting the match. Both managers are expected to make as many as 11 changes at the break as they give their full squad a run-out.
LIVERPOOL XI: B Jones, Kelly, Flanagan, Skrtel, Wisdom, Lucas, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Lambert, Borini
Subs: Ward, Smith, Enrique, Coady, Coates, Phillips, Robinson, Stewart, L Jones, Peterson, Suso, Rossiter, Ibe, Adorjan
Subs: Ward, Smith, Enrique, Coady, Coates, Phillips, Robinson, Stewart, L Jones, Peterson, Suso, Rossiter, Ibe, Adorjan
PRESTON FIRST-HALF XI: Jones, Woods, Clarke, Wright, Buchanan, KilKenny, Brownhill, Browne, Hayhurst, Gallagher, Garner
PRESTON SECOND-HALF XI: Stuckmann, Wiseman, King, Huntington, Davies, Humphrey, Welsh, Keane, Laird, Davies, Little
Subs: James, Anderton, Byrom, Hugill
PRESTON SECOND-HALF XI: Stuckmann, Wiseman, King, Huntington, Davies, Humphrey, Welsh, Keane, Laird, Davies, Little
Subs: James, Anderton, Byrom, Hugill
So Preston have named their two XIs both halves before the game gets underway. Liverpool, meanwhile, name one XI, but Rodgers could well completely change his side at the break.
The headline news for Liverpool is that there are debuts for both Rickie Lambert, the club's new number 9, and midfielder Emre Can. Fabio Borini also starts despite being on the verge of a £14m move to Sunderland.
LAST TIME OUT! These two sides met at a similar time last summer, with Liverpool coming out on top 4-0. Their last competitive meeting was in the 2009 FA Cup, when goals from Albert Riera and Fernando Torres saw Liverpool win 2-0.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has just been asked by BT Sport for an update on the Borini situation. He replies: "They've obviously offered to buy Fabio, and there's an agreement between the two clubs." Rodgers says that personal terms are yet to be agreed and that Borini is "still very much a Liverpool player".
Both of these clubs have ties to the great Bill Shankly as he was born in Preston before going on to become a legendary Liverpool manager. Here he is in the Deepdale Kop:
The Bill Shankly Kop at Deepdale... #LFC pic.twitter.com/ogkIYsHuwS — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 19, 2014
One man not on the Liverpool squad list who might be in the not-too-distant future is Loic Remy. The Reds are believed to have activated the Frenchman's release clause.
Today's game is the last for Liverpool this side of the Atlantic before they fly out to America on Sunday for four pre-season games against AS Roma, Olympiacos, Manchester City and AC Milan.
There should be a gulf in class today as Liverpool finished second in the top flight last season while Preston were beaten in the League One playoff semi-finals by Rotherham United after finishing fifth.
The two sides are out on the field now and what a moment it is for Lambert, turning out in Liverpool red for the first time. A dream come true for the Merseyside man.
One Preston player to look out for is Joe Garner, who is reportedly being tracked by several Championship clubs this summer.
KICKOFF! Preston get us underway at Deepdale.
Flanagan commits the first foul of the game by bringing down Kilkenny in the middle of the park.
The ball breaks Garner's way in the box and he beats Liverpool keeper Jones to the ball before prodding it out to the wing. A cross comes in and Liverpool captain for the day Skrtel is up to head it out.
Nice action Rickie..
PHOTO: Rickie Lambert warms up at Deepdale ahead of his #LFC debut pic.twitter.com/VPg3XmnclJ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 19, 2014
SHOT! I said that Garner might be the man to look out for, and he's just had the first effort of the game with a curling 20-yard effort that Jones had to palm away. Neat try.
An update from one of the other pre-season friendlies: Chelsea are losing to AFC Wimbledon after conceding in the first minute.
Lambert drills the ball wide of the goal from a tight angle, but he was offside when Lucas Leiva played him in.
A flick-on falls Hayhurst's way in the Liverpool box and he looks to fire off a quick shot but is blocked by a red shirt.
JUST OVER! So close to a stunning Preston goal! Kilkenny tries his luck from 25 yards and his shot takes the faintest of nicks off Wisdom's back before whistling a couple of inches over the bar. Referee Jeremy Simpson didn't see the touch and points for a goal kick.
It's all Preston at the moment! They steal the ball in midfield and have numbers in attack, but can't quite create a decent opening as Gallagher's low cross from the left is blocked out for a corner.
SHOT! Next to have a pop from distance for Preston is Brownhill, whose 30-yard dipper might be going wide, but Jones takes no chances and pushes it wide.
CHANCE! From the resulting corner, Browne is left unmarked and should at least get it on target, even though he's back pedalling. His header bounces wide and Liverpool survive again.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Worrying signs for the Reds as debutant Emre Can trudges off with an injury and is replaced by Jordan Ibe, who scored in this same pre-season fixture a year ago.
Liverpool win a corner and it's met in the air by Skrtel, whose downward header is about to be turned home by Borini when Buchanan bravely hooks the ball away.
Moments later Buchanan goes in strongly on Coutinho and comes out worse after a knocking of knees. He stays down for a minute or two but is soon up on his feet.
SHOT! Ibe has given Liverpool more drive and he feeds Flanagan on the left before the full-back drills it in low first time. The ball comes Lambert's way on the right of the area and his left-foot drive takes a slight deflection, making it an easy save for Jones.
The goalkeepers for both teams in the first half are called Jones, by the way. Jamie for Preston, Brad for Liverpool.
CHANCE! Clearest sight of goal yet, with Garner again the man to test Jones with a fizzing drive after careless play from Coutinho in the middle.
CHANCE! Preston's best opening is followed by Liverpool's moments later as Coutinho rolls the ball into Lambert. The former Southampton man has his back to goal and slips it to his right to the onrushing Ibe, who blazes it wide from just 10 yards.
The game's gone a little bitty in the last couple of moments, with niggly challenges from both teams. In the stands, both sets of supporters are singing Bill Shankly's name.
Flanagan gets a big jeer from the home fans after carelessly overrunning the ball at the byline. Half-time now just five minutes away. Remember, we might not see any of these players again in the second half with both managers expected to shake things up.
Garner's attempted through ball is cut out and Liverpool break quickly through Borini down the left. Lambert is in the middle and he's about to tuck home when Wright makes a big challenge on the six-yard line.
Brownhill gets into the area and is forced wide but still manages to get away a shot that Wisdom blocks.
GOAL! PRESTON 1-0 LIVERPOOL (BROWNHILL)
The Lilywhites take the lead just before the break through Brownhill, who can't miss from a couple of yards after Jones kept out Garner's acrobatic effort at the back post.
HALF-TIME: PRESTON 1-0 LIVERPOOL
Well, who would have thought it! This time last year Liverpool were on their way to a comfortable 4-0 win, but they'll have their work cut out this year as they're behind at the break thanks to Brownhill's tap-in just before the interval.
And you have to say, Preston deserve their lead. They've had the better chances. However, they'll be fielding a completely new XI after half time.
North End boss Simon Grayson revealed his two XIs before the game and the second half one that will be coming out of the dressing room is below.
PNE SECOND HALF XI: Stuckmann, Wiseman, King, Huntington, Davies, Humphrey, Welsh, Keane, Laird, Davies, Little
PNE SECOND HALF XI: Stuckmann, Wiseman, King, Huntington, Davies, Humphrey, Welsh, Keane, Laird, Davies, Little
If you're only just joining us and want a quick update on the opening 45, read our half-time report here.
Although Preston are changing their entire XI, Liverpool are making just two alterations at half time. Suso and Jack Robinson on, Rickie Lambert and Martin Kelly off.
Preston boss Grayson has a quick word with BT Sport before the second half, saying that it doesn't matter how well his first-half XI played, they were always coming off: "It was always going to be the case, regardless of the score," he says.
KICKOFF! We're back underway at Deepdale, with Liverpool looking to come back and avoid a second pre-season defeat in a few days.
Preston have an early half-chance to make it two when Wiseman's cross from the right is met by Little, whose header drifts a yard or so wide.
He might not have made it a dream first appearance in Red, but Rickie Lambert will have just loved pulling on the Liverpool shirt in that first half!
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Liverpool's other debutant, Emre Can, didn't have the greatest of his starts to his career for the Reds. He had to be taken off with a reported calf strain midway through the opening half.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
Back on the pitch, it's been a slow-going start to the second half. Neither side yet to create a real chance.
Garner was impressive for Preston in the first half, but in attack now for the Lilywhites is veteran Kevin Davies, who is already putting himself about like he always does.
Suso with his first shot since coming on at half time. It's a low one to the near post that Preston keeper Stuckmann stops comfortably.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Rodgers makes seven changes just after the hour mark, with Lloyd Jones, Sebastian Coates, Conor Coady, Krisztian Adorjan, Jordan Rossiter, Kristoffer Peterson and Kevin Stewart all coming on. Plenty of youngsters getting their chance.
SHOT! Ibe almost with a stunning equaliser for the visitors, cutting inside from the left and seeking out the far corner with a vicious drive that takes a slight deflection and flies wide.
Borini was one of the players to come off and that's probably the last time that he'll play for Liverpool with a move to Sunderland soon to be confirmed.
One player who Liverpool fans won't see today is Lazar Markovic. The recent Serbian signing is in the crowd watching his new teammates, though.
PHOTO: New #LFC signing Lazar Markovic watches proceedings at Deepdale... pic.twitter.com/lm2iYL2bZV — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 19, 2014
LIVERPOOL SUB: Another change by Rodgers, as he takes off half-time sub Jack Robinson for experienced left-back Jose Enrique.
Suso's attempted through ball to Coady is too strong and rolls harmlessly out of play. Sums up the Reds' afternoon, that.
GOAL! PRESTON 1-1 LIVERPOOL (SUSO)
Out of nowhere, the visitors level and it's a gorgeous finish from Suso. Credit to Ibe for bursting from midfield to the edge of the box where he found Suso, who dipped onto his favoured left foot before curling a shot past Stuckmann into the far corner. Delightful finish.
GOAL! PRESTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL (PETERSON)
The youngsters have turned it around for Liverpool! Again, credit must go to Ibe for a surge down the left and pinpoint cutback to Kristoffer Peterson, whose low shot took a deflection that lifted it over Stuckmann and into the net.
That's Peterson's second goal in two games after he scored the Reds' solitary goal against Brondby in midweek. That one was set up by Ibe too.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Another change from Rodgers, who takes off Adorjan after about 20 minutes of play for Adam Phillips.
PHOTO: Suso celebrates his brilliant goal to draw #LFC level at Preston pic.twitter.com/L5LdtdxJHu — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 19, 2014
Ibe with a wicked cross from the left that Stuckmann acrobatically palms out. He probably should have caught that, but the photographers have no doubt got a good snap there.
SHOT! Peterson skips away from Keane's rash challenge and then lets Coady take the ball on. Peterson is an option to the right, but Coady goes for goal and squeezes it wide of the near post. Not the best effort.
The Preston man of the match has been announced as goalscorer Josh Brownhill. For the overall match, you'd have to give it to Ibe for his hand in both Liverpool goals. Full-time whistle moments away.
FULL-TIME: PRESTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
It's a win for Liverpool then as they come from a goal down to beat Preston at Deepdale.
Brownhill gave the hosts a half-time lead, but then quickfire strikes from Suso and Peterson saw Liverpool run out as winners. They now travel to America tomorrow for games against Roma, Olympiacos, AC Milan and Manchester City.
Anyway, time for us to say goodbye. Thanks for joining SM. I'll leave you with our match report and the link to check out today's other pre-season results. Enjoy!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
