Morning all! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for live text coverage of today's post-season friendly between Sydney FC and Liverpool at the ANZ Stadium! A long Premier League campaign finally came to an end on Sunday, and it did so in relatively triumphant fashion for Liverpool, who now have just one more assignment before they earn their summer break. It promises to be something of a party atmosphere inside the stadium today, and hopefully the action on the field will be just as entertaining! First, though - the team news!

SYDNEY STARTING XI: Vukovic; Grant, Wilkinson, Ryall, Zullo; Brillante, O'Neill, Blackwood, Brosque, Carney; Bobo

SYDNEY SUBS: Heward-Belle, Timotheou, Simon, Lokolingoy, Flottmann, Zuvela, Mutch, Kuleski, Antoniou, Green, Gonzalez

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Carragher, Moreno; Lucas, Gerrard, Woodburn; Firmino, Sturridge, Wilson

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Klavan, Lallana, Agger, McManaman, Matip, Stewart, Randall, Brewster

Plenty of notable news from that Liverpool lineup then, but let's start with a look at the home side and their relatively lesser-known players. The one to watch for Liverpool today will be Bobo, who leads the line for Sydney after a record-equalling goalscoring season. The striker netter 16 times to help fire Sydney to the A-League championship, with that tally seeing him equal Marc Janko's club-record mark for a single season.

Today will be an extra special occasion for Dave Carney, who was born in midfield but moved to Liverpool in 1999 to join Everton's youth academy. He came through the ranks at Goodison Park and eventually joined up with the senior squad in 2002, although he never played a first-team game for the Toffees. He has spent much of his well-travelled career in Britain, though, before joining his hometown club last year.

Sydney are without key midfielder Ninkovic today as he has returned to Serbia for family reasons, while the likes of Holosko and Ibini have moved on since their title triumph, but the bulk of the squad is fit and ready to face Liverpool here. Indeed, manager Graham Arnold has made just three changes to the starting XI he named for the Grand Final earlier this month, with Buijs, Holosko and Ninkovic the men to drop out.

The aforementioned Carney is one of those to come into the starting lineup, while Blackwood joins him in midfield alongside the likes of Brosque, Brillante and O'Neill. The back five remains almost untouched, with the only change coming in central defence as Ryall comes in for Buijs. The entire team is made up of Australians with the exception of Brazilian striker Bobo, incidentally.

As for Liverpool, fans around the world will rejoice to see Steven Gerrard back in a red shirt today, with the former captain named in the starting XI here as one of four former players included in the squad. Gerrard scored 186 goals in 710 appearances for Liverpool and will arguably go down as the club's greatest ever player, so it will be a special treat to see him playing with the first team for perhaps the last ever time. We may well see him on the sidelines as manager in the future, but for now this will be a moment to savour for Liverpool supporters.

Not many people have played more often for Liverpool than Gerrard, but Jamie Carragher is one of those and the Scouse duo are reunited on the field today. Carragher made 737 appearances for the Reds during his one-club playing career and more recently has excelled as a pundit, so I'm sure there will be no shortage of people looking to dissect his performance today (I'm looking at you, Neville). In fact, the former Manchester United man has already had a few digs on Twitter...

Wow @Carra23 in the Liverpool squad . Gonna be awkward for you playing in that defence you've been slagging off all year! https://t.co/3WqIXBtX4l — Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 22, 2017

Carragher will be playing alongside Dejan Lovren in the heart of the defence, with Alexander-Arnold and Moreno on either side of him and Loris Karius behind as Jurgen Klopp makes a host of changes to the side which beat Middlesbrough on the final day. Indeed, Lovren is the only member of that defensive unit to keep his place and one of only three players in the entire team to start both games, alongside Firmino and Sturridge.

Tellingly, Lucas Leiva will captain the side today ahead of Gerrard, which is perhaps the biggest sign yet that the Brazilian will be ending his 10-year stay with the club this summer. There is no Coutinho or Can in the squad due to the Confederations Cup, but as mentioned Firmino and Sturridge both start and the likes of Lallana, Mignolet and Matip are on the bench too. Also among the subs are two more former Liverpool players in the shape of Steve McManaman and Daniel Agger.

We know all about that Liverpool team and the players, but how about their opponents and hosts today? Well, on paper these always look like they should be wins for the Premier League clubs, but Sydney are coming off the back of a remarkable season in which they have set new standards for Australian football. They have been far and away the best team in the A-League this season, and the current crop could lay a very strong claim to being the best Australian club side since the division was formed.

The stats certainly back them up on that front - they finished a whopping 17 points clear of second place in the regular season table, which is the biggest winning margin in A-League history. The A-League differs from the Premier League in that finishing top of the pile does not necessarily guarantee you the title, and Sydney almost missed out on it during the post-season playoffs when they met Melbourne Victory, who had finished second, in the Grand Final.

It took a penalty shootout, but eventually justice was served as Sydney won the title with Ninkovic scoring the winning spot kick. The match itself had finished 1-1, with a rare goal from Rhyan Grant cancelling out Berisha's opener with a little over 20 minutes of normal time remaining, and while that match was closer than anything that had come before that season, Sydney were certainly deserving champions.

Graham Arnold's side broke a plethora of records on their way to being crowned champions, with that biggest winning margin of 17 points just the tip of the iceberg. They also won more matches overall (20) and away (10) than any other side in A-League history, whilst going through the entire campaign with only one defeat - a joint-record. Sydney finished the season with just 12 goals conceded in their 27 games - the fewest in A-League history, while their overall goal difference of +43 was also the best in the division's lifespan.

Unsurprisingly, Sydney also scored more goals than any other team this season, and 30 of their 55 strikes came away from home - once again an all-time A-League high. They conceded both the fewest home goals (4) and away goals (8) in A-League history, kept the most clean sheets (16) and, perhaps most impressively of the lot, amassed the highest points tally in the division's history with 66.

It was complete and utter domination, then, and they finished the season with a nine-match unbeaten run following their solitary defeat of the campaign - a 1-0 loss to Western Sydney in February. Including the semi-final and Grand Final that means that Sydney lost just one of their 29 league outings last season, winning 22 of those, but they were denied the league and cup double courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City in the November cup final - Everton old boy Tim Cahill getting the goal.

Sydney are now three-time A-League champions, which is a joint all-time record, but this is their first title for seven years and, unsurprisingly, is comfortably their best ever season as a club. At home in particular they have been strong, going through the entire campaign unbeaten in front of their own fans and winning their last eight. Their most recent home defeat came in April 2016, 19 matches ago, while they have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 games.

This match may not be quite as straightforward as many Premier League fans may expect on first glance, then, but Liverpool will go into the game in good spirits themselves. They have achieved their primary objective of qualifying for next season's Champions League and will now begin looking forward to bolstering their squad for that competition next season. It remains to be seen how well the Reds will be able to juggle domestic and European commitments, but Klopp will want to build a squad capable of challenging on both fronts.

It did look at one stage of the season as though Liverpool might be able to launch a title challenge this term, but a dreadful run at the start of 2017 put an end to any hope of that, in addition to the rest of their trophy aspirations. Liverpool won just two matches in the space of 12 games to crash out of the FA Cup, EFL Cup and even drop out of the top four, although they were obviously able to rectify that last one eventually.

Sunday's 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough saw them finish in the top four for just the second time in the last eight years, holding off the challenge of Arsenal to finish one point above the Gunners. It was nervy for long spells at Anfield, particularly after the news spread that both Manchester City and Arsenal had scored early in their respective games, leaving Liverpool out of the top four for much of the first half. Georginio Wijnaldum's goal right on the stroke of half time settled things, though, and Coutinho and Lallana added one each after the break to put the result beyond doubt.

Liverpool's home form had given Arsenal some hope of sneaking back into the top four, but they still ended the season in pretty good form with just one defeat from their final 12 games - a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield. Perhaps even more notably, Liverpool's much-maligned defence ended the campaign with four clean sheets in a row and five in their last six games - as many as they had managed in their previous 20 league outings.

A 3-0 win over Boro at Anfield may have been enough to complete the job on Sunday, but it was Liverpool's away form which really pushed them over the line during the closing stages of the campaign. The Reds won their last four away games of the season and were unbeaten in five - a run which stretched back to February 27 when they were beaten by Leicester City in the first game after Claudio Ranieri's sacking. Tonight's game won't count towards the official records, but a win would make it five in a row away from home for the first time since January 2015.

Only Chelsea and Manchester City amassed more points on the road in the Premier League this season, with Liverpool winning 10, drawing five and losing four of their away games to give them a final points tally of 35. The Reds also scored 33 goals in their 19 away games, a tally only Man City, Tottenham and Arsenal could beat. Of course, a trip all the way to Sydney where they have arrived just 24 hours before kickoff is a little different than popping down to London, but Liverpool have been good on the road this season.

hat away form contributed to Liverpool finishing a full 16 points - and crucially four places - better off than last season, so the improvement under Jurgen Klopp has been clear to see in his first full season at the helm. Of course, this year they had a much lighter schedule than last season, when they reached the League Cup final and the Europa League final, but the team do certainly seem to be heading in the right direction at the moment.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the ANZ Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! These are always difficult ones to call, with Liverpool having just come off the back of a long season and naturally not likely to put their all into the game. For the Sydney players it is a much bigger occasion, and they will be fresher too. I expect the game to have something like a testimonial feel to it with the likes of Gerrard and Carragher playing, which will hopefully mean goals. I'm going for a 3-2 win for Liverpool!

This is not Liverpool's first trip Down Under, the Reds having made three visits to Australia in recent years. They were head for a pre-season tour in July just two years ago, beating Brisbane Roar 2-1 and then Adelaide United 2-0, while their first trip came in front of a packed crowd against Melbourne Victory in July 2013, when they won 2-0. They will be looking to maintain their 100% Aussie record today, then.

By contrast, Sydney will be looking for a rare win over Premier League opposition having welcomed a few English sides in recent years. Everton were the first to visit in 2010, winning 1-0, while Blackburn Rovers also ran out 2-1 victors later in July of that year. In 2014 Sydney were thrashed 4-0 by Newcastle before responding four days later with a 3-1 win over West Ham, while more recently they were narrowly beaten by both Tottenham and Chelsea in post-season friendlies a couple of years ago.

Right, we're close to kickoff now so allow me to take the opportunity to steer you in the direction of our Sports Mole Reader Awards for the 2016-17 season. There are plenty of Liverpool players (and Jurgen Klopp) up for prizes, so be sure to have your say! Voting closes later tonight!

The players come out on to The Beatles' Twist and Shout, which should help to make this Liverpool side feel at home. There is a huge Liverpool following inside the 82,000-seater stadium.

Now 'You'll Never Walk Alone'rings around the stadium, and what a great rendition it is too. They love Liverpool down here.

Before kickoff, we will have a minute's silence in memory of the victims from the terrible terrorist attack in Manchester a couple of days ago.

KICKOFF: And we're off! The action is underway at the ANZ Stadium!

CHANCE! This would have been a fairytale start for just about every Liverpool fan in attendance here. Gerrard has an early sight of goal, but the former skipper fires his effort high and wide.

The pitch is not the best in the ANZ Stadium today, and it is no great surprise that this game has started at a pace rather lower than you would usually expect from Liverpool.

It hasn't taken long for Sturridge to give Klopp another reminder of his finishing ability. Woodburn wins the ball well inside the Sydney half and then plays a pass in for Sturridge, who beats his man with some good footwork before sliding a finish into the far corner with his weaker right foot. Clinical stuff from the England man.

Liverpool have taken complete control of the ball in the opening exchanges here, with Sydney barely able to get a kick at the moment. The Reds are just exerting their dominance right now.

Gerrard plays his first trademark long pass forward for Moreno who, rather predictably, is bursting down the left flank. The move comes to nothing, but the fans enjoyed that pass.

Sydney make their first really threatening break forward as Bobo and Brosque link up to release the latter into the box. He is ultimately forced out wide but Sydney keep the ball until Lovren eventually steps in to win possession back. Sturridge then goes for goal from inside his own half, but doesn't get enough on it.

Lovely play from Firmino as he skips away from a couple of defenders to keep the ball smartly. He then plays a pass inside for Gerrard, who in turn tries to pick out a man in the box, but his pass is cut out.

Alexander-Arnold now makes the burst down the right channel and plays a low ball in towards Sturridge, but it is cut out just before it reaches the Liverpool striker.

Pre-season, regular season or post-season, this is a cracking goal. Firmino chips a beautiful little pass over the defence and into the path of Moreno, who has made the run inside from the left to collect the ball inside the area. The Spaniard takes it down well before adjusting his feet and flicking an audacious outside-of-the-boot volley into the roof of the net. Brilliant pass and finish.

Liverpool have been very impressive in this opening 20 minutes considering they only arrived in Sydney 24 hours ago and only finished their season on Sunday. Sydney have been comfortably second-best - more so than I expected.

Gerrard goes over to take a corner and the fans on that side rise to get a better view of the Liverpool legend. His ball in is decent too, but it is taken off the head of Lovren with a good clearance.

Sydney almost get into a shooting position as Bobo steals the ball in a good position. His initial pass towards Brosque is cut out, but the ball comes back towards Brosque, who leaves it thinking he is offside when he was actually on. That could have been a good chance for the hosts!

Sturridge and unselfish isn't something you hear in the same sentence too often, but he tries to be here. He is released in behind the defence by Sturridge but opts for a pass instead of going for goal himself and sees it cut out.

Another ball forward forces Vukovic out of his area to cut it out, with Moreno (of course) looking to race on to it. The Sydney keeper does just enough to clear his lines, and Sturridge is then back there defending and filling in for Moreno - Total Football at its finest *ahem*.

Here is that hair-raising rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' from the Sydney crowd...

You'll Never Walk Alone. 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/0lspPsiSGm — Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 24, 2017

Sturridge tries to channel his inner Firmino and dink a pass over the defence for Gerrard in the area, but he puts just too much on it and Gerrard looked to be offside anyway.

Sydney have their first real chance to have a go at goal and it falls to the former Everton man Carney, but Gerrard throws himself in the way of it and Sydney win a corner.

CHANCE! The first corner comes to nothing, but Sydney win a second immediately afterwards and Carney's delivery is met by Wilkinson, who nods it narrowly wide.

CHANCE! Liverpool respond with a chance of their own at the other end moments later, with Firmino cutting inside the defender before being denied by Vukovic.

Sturridge almost steals in behind the Sydney defence again as Firmino plays the ball over the top, but the Liverpool striker went a yard too early and the flag is raised.

Liverpool have their third and, while Firmino will claim it, Sturridge deserves the main credit. The opening goalscorer once again stands his marker up inside the area and darts onto the outside rather than sticking on his favoured left foot. He then puts a ball into the six-yard box, and Wilkinson slices his attempted clearance onto the leg of Firmino and it flies in.

SHOT! Liverpool come forward looking for a fourth through Wilson, but his eventual finish is tame and straight at the keeper. The youngster had Lucas up in support, but he never looked like passing to the Brazilian.

Good to see Carragher hasn't changed! The veteran goes into a sliding challenge - a little less gracefully than he used to, it must be said - and though he wins the ball he also drags his man to the ground Aussie Rules style, and they complains to the ref when he is penalised.

CHANCE! Another chance for Liverpool as Gerrard picks out Alexander-Arnold with a pass and the full-back collects it before cutting inside. He tries to catch Vukovic out at his near post, but the Sydney keeper is down quickly to make the save.

Sturridge wants a penalty here as he bundles through a couple of tackles before going down under the challenge of O'Neill. I've certainly seen then given, but the referee was in no mood to award it in these circumstances.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

PENALTY SHOUT! An even bigger appeal for a Liverpool penalty now as Sturridge slides a pass in for Gerrard, who goes down under a robust challenge from Grant. The Liverpool man went down in a very similar ilk to the penalty he won in the 2005 Champions League final, but this time he does not get the decision.

The first half comes to an end in Sydney, then, and in truth the match looks to be over as a contest too. Liverpool have been by far and away the better team at the ANZ Stadium and the 3-0 lead does not flatter them. I would expect a whole host of changes in the second half, but even that should not be enough for Liverpool to throw this advantage away now.

The opening goal arrived after just seven minutes as Daniel Sturridge got the visitors off to a perfect start, dancing his way past his marker inside the area before sliding the ball into the bottom corner with his weaker right foot. It wasn't the fiercest finish you will ever see, but Sturridge placed it perfectly into the bottom corner and the keeper could not get to it.

The second goal was the pick of the bunch so far, and it came through the unlikely figure of Alberto Moreno - a farewell gift before his summer exit, perhaps. The full-back's dart inside was picked out by Firmino's delightful chipped pass forward, and Moreno took it down before flicking a brilliant improvised volley past the keeper.

Liverpool made it 3-0 shortly before half time and, while Firmino got his name on the scoresheet, the Brazilian didn't know a great deal about it. Sturridge turned creator on this occasion, once again beating his man down the right channel before playing the ball inside. Wilkinson could only slice his clearance against Firmino and the ball subsequently bounced off the forward and in.

KICKOFF: Sydney FC get us back underway for the second half, and there have been a host of changes as expected. I see Lallana, Klavan and Matip for Liverpool, while Simon is on for Sydney. Gerrard and Carragher are still on!

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Gerrard and Carragher don't last long, though - Jurgen Klopp takes them off in the opening minute of the first half in order to give them a reception from the crowd. On come Steve McManaman and Daniel Agger in their place.

SHOT! Blackwood looks to catch Karius out with a snapshot from range, but it flashes across goal and never really looks like troubling Karius.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Lallana to mark his introduction with a goal as Vukovic's poor clearance falls right at the feet of the midfielder, who has been given the armband for the second half, incidentally. His attempted shot from range with the keeper out of goal is poor though as he fails to even get it off the ground.

SHOT! Another shooting chance for Sydney as Grant drives forward and tries his luck from 25 yards out, but it flies a long way over the crossbar.

Sydney are looking a lot more dangerous coming forward in this second half than they were in the first. The Liverpool changes seem to have upset the team's rhythm a little.

Right, allow me to try to update you on the substitutions situation - Firmino, Lovren, Lucas, Wilson and Sturridge have all made way for Liverpool, while Bobo has been withdrawn for the hosts.

Grant almost nips in behind Woodburn down the right channel, getting the wrong side of the Liverpool man inside the area at one point. However, the ball bounces up and strikes him on the hand, so while he is asking ambitiously for a penalty, the referee awards Liverpool a free kick.

I think it is fair to say that McManaman is not quite the wing wizard he once was. The elder statesman is patrolling the middle of the park now.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Moreno has been playing in almost a free role in this second half so far - whether ordered to or not - but he is now replaced by Connor Randall.

SYDNEY SUBS: Changes for Sydney too as Zuvela and Lokoli Ngoy are introduced.

SAVE! Lokoli Ngoy wins a corner with his first action, but Liverpool break from the resulting delivery and Alexander-Arnold cuts inside to shoot, forcing a decent stop from the keeper.

Carragher has already had his say on his performance tonight, with a cheeky little reference to John Terry's 26th-minute substitution for Chelsea on Sunday...

I was waiting to come off in the 23rd minute! Clean sheet, passing exemplary, set pieces fine & only just off a 24 hr flight 8 hrs ago!!!! https://t.co/i6oKK07WnN — Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) May 24, 2017

Liverpool looked really sharp and fluid in the first half, but the substitutions have affected that it is feels a lot more like a friendly now.

CHANCE! Just as I say that, Liverpool break forward and almost get a fourth through Randall. Lallana strides forward from midfield and pokes the ball out to the full-back, whose effort from inside the area is saved by Vukovic.

Agger bursts forward from defence as he used to love to do and you can tell that he wants the chance to get a shot away, but the pass from Woodburn gives him too much to do.

A Mexican wave is making its way around the ANZ Stadium, which is perhaps the best sign that this game has fizzled out somewhat since the interval. The fans have been reduced to making their own entertainment.

SYDNEY SUBS: Two more changes from the hosts as Green and Gonzalez replace Brillante and Zullo.

CHANCE! Liverpool up the tempo a little here as Lallana gives the ball out to Woodburn, who fires his effort straight at the keeper.

Sydney will be a lot happier with their performance in this second half, but Liverpool have taken their foot off the pedal big time following those changes.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Another change for Liverpool as Simon Mignolet comes on for Karius.

SYDNEY SUB: Sydney also make a change as William Mutch replaces Blackwood.

Grant has made a number of forays forward in this second half, and he breaks in behind the defence again here. He tries to lay a pass back inside, but the linesman's flag is correctly raised.

The attendance has just been announced as 72,000 - incredible support for a post-season match like this. Take a bow, Sydney.

SAVE! Mignolet has already had more to do than Karius did during his time on the field. Zuvela breaks down the right channel and just looks to get power behind his shot while keeping it on target, but Mignolet makes the save.

SYDNEY SUB: Another change for Sydney sees Nicola Kuleski replace O'Neill.

CHANCE! What a chance this is for Sydney to get a consolation! Mutch is unmarked at the back post and has the whole goal gaping in front of him, but somehow he fails to convert. The sub is picked out by a low pass across the face of goal, but on first viewing it looks as though he hit the ball against his standing leg! That is an incredible miss!

CHANCE! Chance for Liverpool at the other end as Woodburn bursts down the left flank before cutting inside really well. The ball just gets caught under his feet, though, and that prevents him from getting a good enough shot in to add the finishing touch to a fine solo run.

CHANCE! It's end to end stuff now! This time Simon gets in behind the defence for Sydney and fire a decent strike towards the far corner, but Mignolet pulls off a fine stop to deny the striker.

SYDNEY SUB: One more change for the hosts as Wilkinson is replaced by Patrick Flottmann.

Just two minutes remaining on this match now, and it has been a decent post-season run-out for Liverpool here. They got the job done in the first half and have just cruised in this second.

OFF THE BAR! Almost a fourth for Liverpool to cap the scoring off as Alexander-Arnold fires an effort towards goal from a tight angle, only to see it crash against the woodwork.

And with that, Liverpool's 2016-17 campaign comes to an end! The Reds sign off with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sydney at the ANZ Stadium courtesy of goals from Sturridge, Moreno and Firmino in the first half, while the likes of Gerrard, Carragher, McManaman and Agger all got another run out for the clubs too. All in all, a job well done!

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's post-season friendly as Liverpool sign off with a 3-0 win over Sydney. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for any reaction. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!