Socceroos goalkeeper Mitch Langerak concedes four goals as Liverpool run riot in final pre-season game

LIVERPOOL puts four past Borussia Dortmund’s Aussie keeper Mitch Langerak as Didier Drogba hobbles off for Chelsea in overnight friendly action.

Drogba injured, Langerak’s Liverpool woe

LIVERPOOL warmed up for the start of their Premier League campaign by belting four goals past Socceroos goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak in a Philippe Coutinho-inspired friendly victory over Borussia Dortmund at Anfield.

Langerak produced a handful of impressive saves, including a gem to deny Steven Gerrard, but was given precious little support from a rattled back four as Liverpool cut loose.

Brendan Rodgers’s side dominated their final pre-season match with Brazilian playmaker Coutinho the most impressive performer as he scored one goal and had a hand in another.

Coutinho, who will be expected to carry much of Liverpool’s creative burden following the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, was a constant menace throughout as Daniel Sturridge, Dejan Lovren and Jordan Henderson also got their names on the scoresheet against the German club.

Liverpool, looking to go one better after finishing runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, handed debuts to new defensive signings Javier Manquillo and Lovren while Sturridge overcame a hamstring injury to start in attack.

Liverpool’s passing looked crisper than that of their Bundesliga counterparts in the early stages, and Coutinho created the first opening with a weighted ball for Raheem Sterling who saw his shot beaten away by Langerak.

Coutinho was instrumental in Liverpool’s opening goal in the 10th minute when he played a first-time pass which sent Sturridge clear and he angled a shot past Langerak into the corner of the net.

Dortmund looked rusty and were punished for a lack of concentration from a Gerrard corner five minutes later, with the unmarked Lovren allowed time and space to head home from inside the six-yard box.

Gerrard brought a superb one-handed diving save from Langerak with a curling free-kick on the stroke of half-time, and shortly after the interval the home side put the result beyond doubt.

Sterling seized upon a misplaced pass and found the unmarked Coutinho who swivelled and then placed it into the net past the hapless Langerak to get the goal his performance deserved.

Henderson, who had been full of endeavour and energy throughout, tapped home Liverpool’s fourth from close range just after the hour mark.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Manquillo (Kelly 85’), Johnson (Enrique 61’), Skrtel, Lovren; Gerrard, Can (Lucas 46’), Henderson (Allen 80’), Sterling, Coutinho (Ibe 72’); Sturridge (Lambert 76’).

Subs (not used): Jones, Toure, Sakho, Coates, Suso

Goals: Sturridge 10’ Lovren 14’ Coutinho 49’ Henderson 61’

Borussia Dortmund: Langerak; Piszczek (Großkreutz 58’), Sokratis (Knystock 81’), Ginter, Schmelzer (Sarr 81’); Kehl (Bender 46’), Kirch (Immobile 46’), Mkhitaryan (Ji 64’), Aubameyang (Bandowski 76’), Jojic (Amini 77’); Ramos (Hofmann 46’)

Subs (not used): Bonmann, Subotic

Chelsea's Ivorian forward Didier Drogba lays on the pith at the Groupama Arena.

SECOND-HALF goals from Ramires and Cesc Fabregas gave Chelsea a 2-1 win at Ferencvaros in a game to mark the opening of the Hungarian side’s new stadium in Budapest, but it was overshadowed by an injury to striker Didier Drogba.

The striker, making his first start since returning to the club, limped off before the half hour mark with an ankle knock.

Former West Brom and Fulham player Zoltan Gera had scored the first goal at the new ground on the quarter-hour mark but Jose Mourinho’s side hit back after the interval.

Ramires volleyed in on 50 minutes and Fabregas hit the winner with a fine individual goal 10 minutes from time.

Chelsea complete their pre-season at home to Real Sociedad on Tuesday before opening their Premier League campaign at promoted Burnley on Monday, August 18

Ferencvaros: Dibusz, Bonig, Bode, Gyomber, Gera, Busai, Nagy, Nalepa, Cukic, Pavlovic, Mateos.

Subs not used: Jova, Tarczy, Batik, Havojic, Lauth, Nagy, Kukuruzovic, Csilus, Bosnjak, Ugrai

Goal: Gera 17

Chelsea: Cech (Schwarzer 46), Azpilicueta (Moses 60), Christensen (Cahill 46), Zouma (Ake 75), Luis (Ivanovic 46), Mikel (Hazard 46), Ramires (Matic 61), Schurrle (Salah 46 (Van Ginkel 79)), Willian (Fabregas 46), Torres (Costa 46), Drogba (Oscar 28).

Subs not used: Terry

Goal: Ramires 51, Fabregas 81

Originally published as Socceroos goalkeeper Mitch Langerak concedes four goals as Liverpool run riot in final pre-season game