The former Manchester City scored for the second game in a row before his fellow new signing got his first goal as a Red as Brendan Rodgers’s side dominated at the Adelaide Oval
Agencies
ADELAIDE, JULY 20
JAMES Milner scored for the second pre-season game in a row as Liverpool beat Adelaide United 2-0 on Monday.
The former Manchester City midfielder broke the deadlock midway through the second half at the Adelaide Oval when he met Jordon Ibe’s low cross.
Another new signing, Danny Ings, then put the result beyond doubt to match the Reds’ dominance of the game, with Clyne the supplier before the England Under-21s international rounded the keeper to finish.
Divock Origi started up front on his own, supported by the likes of Milner, Ibe and Adam Lallana, but the former Lille man struggled to make much of an impact.
Liverpool made much the brighter start, though, and pegged Adelaide back inside their own half, both Origi and Ibe testing goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic before Adelaide’s Craig Goodwin almost embarrassed Simon Mignolet with an inswinging corner from the right that nearly crept under the crossbar.
Milner stung the palms of Galekovic from 20 yards in the 38th minute as the game remained scoreless at the interval. Dejan Lovren had the opening chance of the second period but the defender’s downward header from Jordan Henderson’s corner bounced into the turf and over the bar. A sweeping Liverpool move found Ibe on the right in the 57th minute and the winger’s low shot passed narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.
But the breakthrough arrived in the 67th minute as Ibe sent in a low first-time cross from the right and Milner stretched out his left leg to divert the ball home.
In a rare attack for the hosts, Tarek Elrich pounced on a loose ball and let fly from 25 yards only to see his effort strike the outside of the post.
And Ings sealed victory when he ran on to Ibe’s through-ball, rounded the keeper and slotted home.
