Liverpool have beat Sevilla 4-1 thanks to a stunning left-footed volley from Diogo Jota, two equally impressive goals in their own way from Luis Diaz and a fine finish from teenage talent Trey Nyoni. Peque had reduced the deficit.
The match was the two of first at Anfield today and marked new Reds head coach Arne Slot's first experience of the iconic ground after taking over from legendary boss Jurgen Klopp.
The contest, which kicked-off at 12.30pm, was played in front of supporters. But the day's second game, against Sevilla's La Liga rivals Las Palmas, which kicks-off at 5pm, will be played behind closed doors.
We will have full coverage of the Las Palmas match. But on this blog it's all about Sevilla.
Liverpool have had an impressive pre-season so far, beating Real Betis 1-0, Arsenal 2-1 and Manchester United 3-0 on the club's tour of America, which proved very successful on and off the field.
But Slot, who is attempting to make Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi his first signing, had admitted he was looking for an improvement against Sevilla.
With the 2024-25 Premier League campaign now less than a week away, the back-to-back clashes with the Spanish outfits will give Slot a chance to fully assess his squad, which is now fully in place after every member returned to training following their international commitments earlier this summer.
Our Liverpool FC reporter Paul Gorst, chief Liverpool FC writer Ian Doyle, and Liverpool FC reporter Theo Squires were in place at Anfield for the Sevilla game and they brought you updates from the friendly itself, and then all the best post-match reaction and analysis.
Details on how you can watch the match live can be read HERE.
Key Events
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 4 Sevilla 1
GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Sevilla (Nyoni)
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Sevilla (Fernandez)
Half-time ratings
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Sevilla (Diaz)
Paul Wheelock
Thank you for joining us
It's been a pleasure to have you along with us on our live coverage of Liverpool's 4-1 win over Sevilla.
But don't go anywhere, because our live coverage of the Reds' behind-closed-doors clash with Las Palmas at Anfield, which kicks-off at 5pm, is now up and running.
Join Ian Doyle and Theo Squires from Anfield right HERE.
Paul Wheelock
Liverpool player ratings and analysis
Ian Doyle was on player ratings, as usual - you can read his scores HERE.
While Paul Gorst was on analysis - with his focus being on the man Arne Slot must keep fit. You can read that story HERE.
Paul Wheelock
WATCH Trey Nyoni goal
What a finish and what a moment for the teenager!
KEY EVENT
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 4 Sevilla 1
Impressive stuff from the Reds.
Paul Gorst
What a moment
Drilled low into the corner by Nyoni after Sevilla fail to properly clear a cross. What a moment for the teenager.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Sevilla (Nyoni)
Nope.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Sevilla (Fernandez)
Surely not?
Paul Gorst
3-1
Peque Fernandez with a smart finish off the far post. Jaros couldn't get near it. 3-1.
Paul Gorst
Subs
Trey Nyoni and Vite Jaros are on. Luis Diaz and Alisson Becker make way.
Paul Wheelock
WATCH Luis Diaz goals here
Number one...
And number two...
Ian Doyle
Alisson alert
The Liverpool goalkeeper has finally had to make saves, although both efforts from Sow were right at him and pretty comfortable.
Liverpoll are in a good position but don't forget, back in 2017 they were 3-0 up against Sevilla and still didn't win.
Great days...
Paul Gorst
Walk it in
Liverpool are guilty of trying to walk it in. First Diaz passes to Salah and over-hits it and then Gravenberch opts not to shoot from Szoboszlai's cut-back. Sevilla being cut open at will.
Paul Gorst
Underway
No subs at half time. Szoboszlai gets the second half underway.
KEY EVENT
Half-time ratings
Alisson Becker 6
Raced out of his area to clear one ball and no real saves to make first half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 7
Delivered a few teasing crosses when not kept busy defensively and pinpoint cross for Jota to score opener.
Jarell Quansah 6
Coughed up a chance with a heavy touch but didn’t let it affect an otherwise solid showing.
Virgil van Dijk 6
Strolled through the opening 45 minutes with Liverpool largely in possession.
Kostas Tsimikas 7
Offered himself regularly down the left flank and caused some problems with deliveries from out wide.
Ryan Gravenberch 6
Slight mixed bag as part of the double pivot but began to grow into the role towards half-time.
Alexis Mac Allister 6
Kept things simple on the left of the midfield two on his first appearance of pre-season.
Mohamed Salah 7
Wide with one trademark curler after coming in off the right flank and always a threat.
Dominik Szoboszlai 6
Playing in the number 10 position, was off the pace for far too long until breaking into space and laying on the third.
Luis Diaz 8
Caused problems by continually running at defenders, which earned the reward of Liverpool’s well-taken second goal.
Diogo Jota 8
Hustled and bustled as the central striker, taking his volleyed opener brilliant then releasing Diaz for the second.
Paul Gorst
Diaz again
An easier finish this time for Diaz, who taps in from Szoboszlai's pass after he had surged clear of the Sevilla defence. 3-0 to the Reds, they are cruising here.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Sevilla (Diaz)
They keep on coming!
Paul Wheelock
WATCH Diogo Jota's stunning goal
Paul Gorst
Diaz looks electric
Benavides in the book for a crude block on Diaz after the Reds winger had knocked it past him into the space. Deserved, in for a friendly. The No.7 has looked electric at times this half.
Paul Gorst
Diaz buries it
Great work against from Jota, who wins a high ball from Alisson before laying in Diaz. The winger cuts inside and smashes it into the roof of the net. 2-0.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Sevilla (Diaz)
And another!
Paul Gorst
Should be 2-0
Should be 2-0, Alexander-Arnold fizzes one to Diaz, he lays in Salah, who should feed Jota, but his dinked finish is cleared by Nianzou. Still 1-0. That was reminiscent of Klopp's time how quickly they moved through the gears on the counter-attack then.
Paul Gorst
Fowler-esque
You can see why people make the case for Jota being the best finisher at the club when he pops up with stuff like that. It's simply sublime from the No.20. Robbie Fowler-esque, dare I say. After a quick water break we're back on. Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla.
Paul Gorst
Brilliant from Jota
Alexander-Arnold hooks a cross to the back post and Jota takes it first time with a superb left-footed volley. It's brilliant. Almost outside of the foot finish from the No.20.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla (Jota)
It's there!
Paul Gorst
Salah shoots wide
Salah cuts inside and curls one just wide of Nyland's right-hand post. Think that's the closest we've come as we get towards the half-hour mark. Liverpool look good here, they are just lacking the final pass and/or shot when it really matters.
Paul Gorst
Szbosozlai sluggish
Fair to say Dominik Szoboszlai is struggling to get into things here. He's looked sluggish in possession and hasn't been involved much.
Ian Doyle
Assessment latest
Halfway through the first half and, to be honest, this has been the least impressive showing so far from Liverpool in pre-season.
There hasn't been much zip to the play which might be a consequence of five of the starters making their first appearances since the international tournaments.
Food for thought given the season starts in six days. The likes of Harvey Elliott in particular will be thinking they could start at Ipswich Town on this evidence so far.
Ian Doyle
Formation chat
For all the insistence that Slot is a bit grumpy at suggestions he plays one formation, Liverpool are clearly playing 4-2-3-1 here.
As has been a feature of the summer, they have overplayed out the back again with Quansah losing possession with a heavy touch, but Idumbo blazes miles over when clear through. Pretty hopeless, that.
Paul Gorst
Gravenberch deep
Gravenberch is the deepst of the three midfielders on show for Liverpool. It looks like Slot is trying to mould him into that position for the long term, doesn't it? Meanwhile, as I type, Sevilla blaze one into the Kop, Idumbo scuffing it inside the area, should have scored.
Paul Gorst
Sharp shooters
Mo Salah and Luis Diaz look sharp in the early going. This is Diaz's first appearance for the Reds since May, of course, but he looks like he hasn't been away. He has been working hard for Colombia at the Copa America, which explains a lot.
