UK Edition
Hertha Berlin 0 Liverpool 3: Dominic Solanke catches the eye again as Reds' pre-season form promises much
When Liverpool announced the signing of Dominic Solanke there were suggestions the fee could be set at £3 million following a tribunal. File that under the heading ‘optimistic’.
Solanke has evidently not read the script about keeping a suitably low profile to keep his price down during pre-season, another goalscoring contribution and an assist probably adding a page to Chelsea’s dossier as they seek maximum compensation.
Given football’s current inflation rate, Liverpool would be wise to get the tribunal brought forward as soon as possible.
Having struck against Crystal Palace in Hong Kong, Solanke’s looping header gave Liverpool the lead against Hertha Berlin in their latest warm-up, which they won 3-0.
It was a less eye-catching effort than in Hong Kong, but he also played his part in Liverpool’s second – taken with aplomb by Gini Wijnaldum - and has shown enough to suggest he will be far more than an Under-23 developer in the year ahead.
Solanke was included in the starting line-up because Divock Origi complained of a tight hamstring injury in the warm-up. The England Under 19 World Cup-winner has the opportunity to be preferred over the Belgian as the main striking understudy once the season kicks off.
Whatever his eventual price, he is a timely reminder that while Liverpool have not yet done enough business, what they have done so far might prove shrewd. Another of the new recruits, Mohamed Salah, was also on the score sheet while Andy Robertson made his first appearance in the second half.
The juxtaposition of the serenity of Liverpool’s pre-season training camp in Germany and the hysteria of those beseeching the club to deliver more signings has been both reassuring and disconcerting.
Those privileged enough to see Jurgen Klopp’s training sessions – three times a day during the most intense period by the picturesque Lake Tegernsee – have been nodding with quiet confidence and appreciation at the sharpness of the senior stars.
There is certainly no sense of impending doom in the absence of RB Leipzig or Southampton softening their stances on Naby Keita and Virgil van Dijk, nor any reason to believe Klopp or Fenway Sports Group will blink if Barcelona start edging closer to £100 million in their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool undoubtedly need to add more quality if their ambitions are to stretch beyond consolidating top-four status. There are problems to solve defensively. But while more depth is still required and sought - Liverpool’s greatest need now is for an imperious centre-back – Klopp’s favoured starting line-up remains impressive when everyone is fit and available.
Perhaps Liverpool’s principal owner, John W. Henry, was suitably enthused by the reports from camp to take in Saturday’s friendly in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, a fixture arranged to mark Hertha and Liverpool’s 125th birthday celebrations.
Significantly, it was an opportunity for Klopp to welcome back Sadio Mane – sorely missed as Liverpool secured the final Champions League qualifying spot in May.
Mane, inevitably, was match rusty, miss-kicking Liverpool’s first genuine opening on 14 minutes after the excellent Emre Can’s midfield burst. The Senegal striker also volleyed tamely over with just keeper Rune Jarstein to beat on 23 minutes.
By then Liverpool were ahead, Solanke meeting Adam Lallana’s cross with a looping header. Solanke then outmuscled Fabian Lustenberger before Mane teed up Wijnaldum for the second on 38 minutes.
Coutinho, who continues to be courted by Barcelona, made his customary assist when he sent the rapid Salah clear for a third on 62 minutes, taken with an exquisite chip over the advancing keeper. The promise of the Brazilian delivering such weight-perfect deliveries to Salah and Mane should ensure no defence will play a high line against Liverpool this season.
Klopp still wants to sign more, but those already here have made a promising start.
Team details
Liverpool (first half): Mignolet; Gomez, Klavan, Matip, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Can, Lallana; Coutinho, Solanke, Mane
Liverpool (second half): Mignolet; Gomez, Klavan, Matip (Flanagan 77), Robertson; Can (sub Ejaria 57) , Henderson, Coutinho (Kent 66); Firmino, Sturridge, Salah