Thailand 0-3 Liverpool: Coutinho on target as Reds cruise to victory

Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal during the international friendly match between Thailand and Liverpool at Rajamangala Stadium on July 28, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand

Liverpool finished their pre-season tour with a comfortable 3-0 win over Thailand at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.

Second half goals from Iago Aspas and Steven Gerrard added to Philippe Coutinho’s wonderful solo effort in the first period gave the Reds victory and ensured they rounded off their record breaking tour in fine style.

Brendan Rodgers had hinted in the build-up that he would name what he believed to be his strongest available XI for the match and the starting line-up certainly looked a side capable of starting the Premier League with Stoke next month.

Rodgers’ side started brightly with Fabio Borini full of running and being picked out in good positions numerous times in the opening 10 minutes. The man picking him out more often than not was Coutinho. Liverpool’s number 10 was unquestionably the stand out player in the early stages, indeed throughout the whole game, and capped his fine start with the breakthrough goal on 17 minutes.

The Brazilian nipped in to steal the ball 25 yards from goal before beating two Thai defenders, one of them suffering the embarrassment of being outfoxed three separate times in a matter of seconds, and rolling the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Liverpool took their foot off the pedal for a short period after the goal and Thailand forward Teerasil Dangda fired narrowly wide with keeper Simon Mignolet looking beaten midway through the half. The hosts went close again 10 minutes before the break, this time the Reds’ Belgian stopper was forced into action to keep out a stinging drive at full stretch.

That scare jolted the tourists into action and the composure shown at the beginning of the half returned as it drew to a close – a lovely passing move saw the ball drilled across the face of the Thailand goal but just too high for any of the onrushing players to convert.

The Reds began the second half positively and soon doubled their lead through the Spaniard Aspas. The recent signing from Celta Vigo expertly collected Coutinho’s through ball before calmly slotting the ball home. His third goal of the pre-season since joining the club.

Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty five minutes later as Borini was clipped as he bore down on goal but the referee waved away the protests. It was of little consequence, however, and a third goal wasn’t long in coming.

A Thailand attack broke down allowing Joe Allen to drive forward through the centre of the increasingly cut up pitch and release Aspas. The forward opted not to take the shot on as the goalkeeper and a Thailand defender closed in, instead laying the ball back for his Gerrard. The captain kept his nerve to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and defenders into the unguarded net.

Shortly afterwards the crowd were on their feet again, this time to welcome Luis Suarez to the pitch. The Uruguayan replaced Borini and almost added a fourth for the Reds twenty minutes from the end, heading Gerrard free-kick against the underside of the crossbar when, perhaps, he should have scored.

Liverpool continued to press for another goal and it was Gerrard who came closest to providing it. Having had a good opportunity saved, the England skipper chipped the ball left-footed beyond the helpless Thai keeper only to see it bounce back off the bar.

That was how it finished and Brendan Rodgers and his squad will now return to Merseyside ahead of Steven Gerrard’s testimonial match next Saturday on the back of four straight pre-season wins without conceding a goal.

Liverpool [4-3-3]: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure (Skrtel), Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Allen (Alberto), Gerrard; Aspas (Ibe), Coutinho (Henderson), Borini (Suarez).

Man of the match: Philippe Coutinho