August 08, (THEWILL) – Liverpool concluded their pre-season preparations on a high note, earning a convincing 3-1 victory over Bundesliga newcomers, SV Darmstadt 98, at the illustrious Deepdale stadium in Preston.
Under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool showed their mettle as they readied themselves for the upcoming English Premier League campaign set to kick off in style against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Super Sunday. The Merseyside giants wasted no time in asserting their dominance, swiftly racing to a two-goal lead within the opening eight minutes of the match.
A pinpoint corner delivered by Dominik Szoboszlai was redirected by Luiz Diaz for the timely touch of Virgil van Dijk’s boot to provide an assist that Mohamed Salah used to open the scoring. The Egyptian forward, who was having a refreshing pre-season, exploited a defensive lapse by Christoph Zimmermann, to set up Jota to confidently double Liverpool’s advantage. Despite a valiant effort by the recently promoted Darmstadt, who marked their return to the Bundesliga stage with a goal courtesy of Mathias Honsak, Liverpool firmly maintained their control.
The second half witnessed relentless offensive pressure from Liverpool, with another Szoboszlai corner met by an acrobatic finish from Luiz Diaz, sealing a well-deserved victory for the Reds.
As the new EPL season beckons, Liverpool find themselves bracing for an intense encounter against Chelsea. Set to unfold at the iconic Stamford Bridge, this opening weekend fixture will hold a special significance as it marks Mauricio Pochettino’s official inaugural game in charge of the Blues, adding an extra layer of expectations to this initial 2023/2024 clash.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
