7.7.07  PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Wrexham 2 Liverpool 3 (www.lfc.tv)


Liverpool got their pre-season off to a winning start thanks to a hat-trick from 19-year-old striker Besian Idrizaj which helped secure a 3-2 victory over Wrexham.

The Austrian hit a 22-minute hat-trick before half time, with the impressive Jermaine Pennant playing a key part in all three goals.

Wrexham's two second-half consolations through Eifion Williams did little to dampen the spirits of the thousands of Kopites who made the journey to the Racecourse Ground on a day when nine young Reds got their first taste of senior action.

It took Rafa Benitez's inexperienced side just four minutes to break the deadlock following Jermaine Pennant's surging run down the right. His low ball was met by Dutch forward Jordy Brouwer, who laid it neatly for strike-partner Besian Idrizaj to smash home.

Ten minutes later the lively Adam Hammill nearly made it two with a twisting volley inside the box. Unfortunately Wrexham stopper Anthony Williams had his wits about him.

There was nothing the Welshman could do on 16 minutes, however, when Pennant and Idrizaj again combined to double the scores. Captain for the day Steve Finnan found Pennant with a sublime 60-yard ball down the right before the winger hit a pinpoint cross into the box. Idrizaj, who spent half of last season on loan at Luton, still had much to do, but the big man's cool headed finish certainly bodes well for the future.

If that felt like déjà vu, things were starting to get spooky on 26 minutes when the Reds made it three. It was again Pennant who got the assist with another well-aimed cross into the box, with Idrizaj again on hand to nod it past the hapless Williams.

With his side well and truly on the ropes, Wrexham boss Brian Carey tried to bolster his backline with the introduction of experienced centre-back Richard Hope.

It did little to steady the ship. On 36 minutes Idrizaj found himself clean through and would have bagged a fourth had he hit the ball first time. Instead he lingered, giving the Dragons defence time to regroup, and the chance was quickly gone.

Despite the miss, the young forward was one of just three survivors as Rafa rung the changes at half-time. Of those who started, only he, Hammill and David Martin in goal came out for the second half.

If some of his teammates were still feeling tired from their summer break, Idrizaj was seemingly running on adrenalin. It took him just five minutes after the restart to clock up his first shot on target, another header which substitute keeper Mike Jones only just managed to tip over.

Liverpool's new Hungarian starlets were given their introduction to English football 16 minutes into the second-half, with Andras Simon replacing Hammill before making his way over to the right, and Krisztian Nemeth replacing the hat-trick hero up front. At the other end, 17-year-old Youth Cup winner Martin Hansen replaced David Martin in goal.

Sadly for the Danish stopper, his number 13 shirt instantly proved unlucky when Wrexham striker Eifion Williams pounced on his mishit clearance before tucking the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of his net.

The closest the visitors came to making it four was on 75 minutes when Ryan Flynn found Nabil El Zhar on the edge of the box before the young Moroccan sent a dipping volley narrowly over the bar.

Wrexham pulled another back on 89 minutes when Williams bagged his second with a fine lob over Hansen.

 

Teams

Liverpool: Martin, Finnan, Hobbs, Paletta, Arbeloa, Pennant, Sissoko, Peltier, Hammill, Idrizaj (captain), Brouwer. Subs - Roque, Threlfall, Lindfield, Spearing, Nemeth, El Zhar, Simon, Hansen, Huth, Darby, Flynn

Wrexham: Williams, Spender, Williams, Pejic, Evans, Murtagh, Jones, Llewellyn, Roberts, Carvill, Done. Subs - Williams, Hope, Valentine, Taylor, Williams, Macken, Evans, Proctor, Williams, Fleming, Jones

Referee: Mike Jone

Conditions: Mild
Attendance: 11,210
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Besian Idrizaj