3.8.07  ROTTERDAM TOURNAMENT
Shanghai Shenua 0 Liverpool 2 (www.lfc.tv)


Liverpool's chances of rounding off their pre-season programme with silverware are still alive after Fernando Torres grabbed his first goal for the Reds in a 2-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua in Rotterdam.

Liverpool's chances of rounding off their pre-season programme with silverware are still alive after Fernando Torres grabbed his first goal for the Reds in a 2-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua in Rotterdam.

Rafael Benitez chose the penultimate warm-up match to hand his record signing a first start, and the 23 year old didn't disappoint with a lively display which was rewarded with a cleverly taken goal after just 12 minutes.

And skipper Steven Gerrard added a spectacular second just seconds after being introduced from the substitute's bench to secure the points.

Liverpool controlled the play almost from first minute to last and, aside from a slight first half scare when Sami Hyypia was forced to avert the danger as Soto Blanco was given a sight of goal, Benitez will be well pleased with his side's display in the energy sapping Dutch heat.

Argentinian youngster Sebastian Leto was also handed his debut after receiving permission to play from the footballing authorities, while fellow countryman Emiliano Insua was given another chance to impress on the left side of the defence.

Torres' strike was the highlight of a low key first half during which Peter Crouch also went close with a long range strike and Momo Sissoko tested the goalkeeper with a couple of long range efforts.

The goal the Reds deserved and the one Torres craved arrived after 12 minutes when the Spanish striker found space behind the back of the Shanghai defence to latch onto Yossi Benayoun's pass and clip the ball over Chen Zhang in the Chinese goal.

Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard were introduced to the action after an hour and the captain took no time at all to stamp his mark on the match with a brilliant curling shot from outside the area into the far corner of the goal.

The local Feyenoord fans who a minute earlier had greeted the arrival of former Ajax man Ryan Babel with a chorus of boos were soon standing to join the Liverpool fans in applauding the brilliance of the skipper. It won't be the last time this season we see such a spectacular goal from our number eight.

Dirk Kuyt was afforded a real hero's welcome when he joined the action 17 minutes from time and he almost made an instant impact with a wonderful pass into the feet of Benayoun, but the Israeli took too long to get his shot away with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Shanghai may not have provided the greatest of opposition against which to test the progress of Rafa's Reds during pre-season but the clash with Feyenoord in two days time is sure to be a different story.

And, with a trophy at stake, victory would be the perfect tonic to take into the final week before the big kick-off at Aston Villa.
 

Teams

Shanghai Shenhua: Zhang, Xiang, Du, Weifeng (c), Gang, Xiao, Blanco, Yu, Sun, Alonso, Jiang. Subs - Chang, Hui, Ke, Martinez, Ricard, Shengjiong, Wang, Yao, Zheng

Liverpool: Martin, Insua, Hyypia (c), Paletta, Finnan, Leto, Leiva, Sissoko, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres. Subs - Alonso, Arbeloa, Babel, Carragher, Gerrard, Kuyt, Mascherano, Reina, Riise


Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Yossi Benayoun