The excuses would have been there for Liverpool FC. Their first game back home after a long, tiring tour in the United States. A difficult opponent in Bundesliga power Borussia Dortmund. Jet lag.
The Reds had little use for excuses, however, taking a 1-0 lead just ten minutes into the game and never looking back en route to a 4-0 dismantling of their German opponent in an exhibition game at Anfield on Sunday.
Setting the tone in the game’s early stages was Daniel Sturridge, who wasted no time in putting the Reds out front. Sturridge timed his run perfectly, received an expert pass from midfielder Philippe Coutinho and calmly deposited the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 advantage.
The Reds doubled their lead just four minutes later. This time it was defender Dejan Lovren, who buried a header in net off a Steven Gerrard corner kick to put Liverpool up 2-0.
The home team never looked back after gaining its early lead, adding a goal right out of the gate in the second half when Coutinho scored an easy goal after a Dortmund turnover deep in its own end to make it 3-0.
Liverpool added one last goal for good measure in the 61st minute off the foot of Jordan Henderson, who received a skillful pass from Raheem Sterling and tapped it in for the score to settle things at 4-0.
It was a dominating performance for the Reds, who end their preseason on a high note before kicking off Premier League play on Aug. 17 at home against Southampton.
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