Raghavendra Goudar
Match Report: Bury 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw with League Two side Bury at the Gigg Lane in their third pre-season friendly of the summer on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Jurgen Klopp handed Virgil van Dijk his first start of the pre-season, alongside Joel Matip in the backline, while Loris Karius continued between the sticks despite all the criticism for his latest error in goal.
New signing Fabinho also started in the middle of the park along with youngster Curtis Jones and James Milner, with Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi getting a chance to save their Liverpool careers.
The Reds were off to a bright start and should have been up 1-0 when Origi found himself in a one-on-one situation with Bury goalkeeper Joe Murphy. But the Belgian’s effort was blocked away. Matip then headed wide from a James Milner cross, before Sturridge saw his effort on goal get blocked by Adam Thompson just in front of the goalline.
Liverpool continued to search for the opener, with Sheyi Ojo coming close near the half-hour mark but the academy graduate was denied by some brilliant defensive work by Bury’s Eoghan O’Connell.
Having failed to break the deadlock, the Merseysiders almost yielded the lead to the home team close to half-time, after a poor back pass from Alberto Moreno was picked by Gold Omotayo. But the Bury man’s heavy touch sent the ball out for a goal-kick.
Klopp made as many as ten changes for the second-half, with Karius the only player remaining from the line-up that started the match. And the changes almost paid off immediately, with Adam Lallana and Dominic Solanke combining brilliantly for the Chelsea striker to take aim at goal. But his effort was stopped on the line.
Bury then almost managed to open the scoring but Andrew Robertson made a fine block to deny Chris Dagnall, before Ryan Cooney’s effort from the rebound hit the post and went wide. It was Liverpool’s turn to threaten next as Ben Woodburn’s strike was brilliantly stopped by Murphy, before parrying away Lallana’s effort.
Young goalkeeper Kamil Grabara came on to replace Karius for the final half hour of the game, while the Shakers also made a few changes to the side. Rafa Camacho then came close to breaking the status quo, after some solid work from summer signing Naby Keita, but his effort drifted wide.
With fifteen minutes left on the clock, Bury thought they had taken the lead late on when Jordan Archer tapped in from a free-kick but the offside flag came to Liverpool’s rescue. The match petered out to a subdued end from thereon, culminating in a goalless stalemate.
Karius had a quiet game in goal for Liverpool, while the young Curtis Jones impressed in the first period. Lallana too looked bright for the Merseysiders, as they gear up to take on Blackburn Rovers at the Ewood Park next week.
Here’s how the Reds’ supporters reacted to their team’s performance.
https://twitter.com/MichaelSeafarer/status/1018166163363254272
https://twitter.com/LoveNotGreed/status/1018165550151761920
https://twitter.com/FinallyFekir/status/1018165050677387265
We're saving the goals for when the season starts proper.
— Evolved (@Evolved_ZA) July 14, 2018
Double Announce Fekir and Alisson
— . (@LFCRELATED__) July 14, 2018
Very poor, should’ve been able to Bury this lot easily.
— Steven Gerrard (@GerrardWATP) July 14, 2018
I see the tactic. Don’t give away the plans for the season ahead. Smart.
— Milan (@FirminosTeeth_) July 14, 2018
Rangers 6-0 Bury
A week later…
Bury 0-0 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/nundLNKySC
— bet365 (@bet365) July 14, 2018
FT: Bury 0 #LFC 0: Credit to Ryan Lowe's side who worked tirelessly. Liverpool far too slow and predictable in possession.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) July 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/E2AFIFA/status/1018164218007351296
