Liverpool started their tour of Asia and Australia with a trip to Jakarta to take on an Indonesian XI.
The first half was a well contested affair, with a good finish from Philippe Coutinho the only difference between the two sides.
As the game wore on Liverpool's ability began to tell and after squandering a few chances Raheem Sterling eventually secured the win late on with a fine counter-attacking move.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello all and thanks for joining me this afternoon as Liverpool get their pre-season tour of Asia and Australia underway. First up - an Indonesian XI in Jakarta.
TEAM NEWS: The news of the day for Liverpool is that Steven Gerrard returns from injury and starts in the middle alongside Lucas Leiva.
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Toure; Lucas, Gerrard, Alberto, Downing, Coutinho; Aspas
INDONESIA XI: Meiga; Sanadi, Iqbonefo, Roby, Hasyim Kipuw; Taufik, Bustomi, Maitimo, Mofu, Van Dijk; Bonai
So that means Iago Aspas is selected up front for Liverpool in a lone strike role, which will be interesting to see how he does. Elsewhere there is a start for Stewart Downing and Simon Mignolet in goal with Pepe Reina off to Napoli.
I would expect this Liverpool side to be not too far off Brendan Rodgers's preferred team for the start of the season. I expect he will be paying particular attention to how Aspas combines with Coutinho - the pair could be a threat if they link up well.
With Arsenal beating what is a very similar XI 7-0 last Sunday, I'd be looking for at least 5-0 here from Liverpool. However pre-season friendlies aren't necessarily about the winning - Rodgers would much prefer to see his plans coming together, whether or not he'll learn much from such a low standard of opposition.
It's almost time for kickoff, so it's about time for my prediction. It's a Liverpool win, of course, but by how much? Essentially a crapshoot, but I like the evenness of a 5-0 win, so I'll go for that.
You'll Never Walk Alone rings around the stadium, with the fans in good voice - mostly supporting Liverpool. It's hazy and dark and Liverpool are in their change kit - just about set for kickoff then.
KICKOFF! Indeed we get underway on time, with the hosts getting us underway.
Indonesia have seen plenty of the ball early on. So much so that Liverpool have started to try to push right up when not on the ball. Bonai attacks down the right but a dangerous move is cut out with a tackle from Enrique.
Liverpool win an early corner, but it comes to nothing. They eventually manage to settle and start to pass the ball around - most of their play has involved Gerrard early on, with the crowd roaring each time he touches the ball.
Enrique combines with Aspas down the left, but his pass to Coutinho is cut out and Liverpool are forced to go back to Agger. Indonesia come down the right again but Bonai's cross goes to Glen Johnson, who defends calmly.
Downing has seen a lot of the ball and is finding a lot of space in a busy midfield. Still yet to have a real chance, however, and really Liverpool have yet to see much of the Indonesian box. A long way to go, though.
GOAL! Indonesia XI 0-1 Liverpool (Coutinho)
Sorry, Indonesia. Liverpool's first sight of goal comes as Coutinho plays a one-two of Roby's leg and slots the ball in. Good finish.
Coutinho is looking a real threat now. He wins a free kick on the left by simply being too tricky. Good work from Gerrard to find Johnson on the overlap but Aspas is beaten to the cross by Meiga.
Indonesia win a corner at the other end and from it there's a nervy moment in the box, but Liverpool survive with Mignolet claiming. That will do him good, as he's looked a little shaky early on.
A hugely ambitious effort there from Downing, who shoots from about 35 yards and wins a corner after a deflection. From the corner Indonesia break but the lively Bonai was too keen and had drifted offside.
The crowd have just gone a little quiet as the pace of the game has slowed a touch. Coutinho again looks dangerous on the left. He finds Alberto but it's given away. They come again through Enrique, but his cross is awful and goes straight out for a goal kick.
Indonesia have enjoyed a spell of possession in the last few minutes, but they have really struggled with ideas when they advance into the Liverpool half.
Indonesia have a free kick here just outside the box. Sanadi is caught by Gerrard and this could be dangerous...
... Bustomi fires it in and Bonai tries to flick it goalwards with his heel, but it goes wide. Mignolet not tested.
CHANCE! Good work from Enrique down the left; his cross is put into the path of Downing but he doesn't get quite enough on his effort and Meiga can make the save. He probably should have got more on that.
OFF THE BAR! There's a hint of why Aspas has been chosen tonight. He drops back to find Alberto, who fires a shot from just outside the box. The goalkeeper is beaten but it goes over via the bar.
SAVE! That is exceptionally ambitious from Van Dijk, who strikes left-footed from way out. However, he catches it brilliantly and forces Mignolet to scramble across and tip it wide.
It has been a really good contest, which has been both surprising and good to see. Liverpool have passed better, certainly, but they have been kept down to just the two chances this far. Indonesia are defending well and look threatening on the break.
Liverpool are starting to ramp up the pressure. Meiga does well form a corner to get the ball partially cleared. It comes out to Downing who tries some sort of chipped angled cross but it goes straight out of play.
Coutinho is really having a good game. He picks it up wide left, shimmies inside and sets up space for Enrique to run into. He finds alberto, who chips into the box for Gerrard, but there's just too much on it and Meiga can claim. Good move.
A Liverpool move breaks down and Indonesia look to break, but they are just too conservative on the ball and allow the visitors time to get back. Two minutes left of what has been a decent first half.
There will be just one minute of added time. There doesn't look to be another goal in this half.
HALF-TIME: Indonesia XI 0-1 Liverpool
So the first half ends and Liverpool have had a good workout here. It has been a test so far and they have had to play some good football to create chances. They deserve to be in front, though.
The player of the half has been Coutinho, by a long chalk. Not only for his goal but he has been the main attacking outlet for Liverpool in the first half.
Being a friendly there will probably be a hatful of substitutions at the break. I'll do my best to name them all! Before I do, however, here's a list of the Liverpool subs:
Jones, Assaidi, Henderson, Spearing, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Kelly, Skrtel, Flanagan, Wisdom, Robinson, Ibe.
I've liked what I have seen from Aspas too. By dropping off the front and drawing out the centre-backs he has created acres of room for Liverpool. It has allowed Coutinho to cut in from the left and Enrique to maraud down the flank.
KICKOFF: I believe it's just the two subs for Liverpool. Joe Allen and Jack Robinson are on.
Indonesia have come out passing quite well. They almost give it away and let Aspas in, but the Spaniard cannot quite gather. Liverpool have the ball now for the first time in the half.
Liverpool come down the right this time with Alberto waiting for Johnson's overlap, but the right-back's cross is beyond poor.
Indonesia almost get a sniff before Liverpool look to break themselves. Coutinho brings it down before looking for Aspas over the top but it's cleared in the end. Nothing doing for either side in the half as yet.
MISS! Oh dear! Aspas does really well to get in behind and take it past the goalkeeper. With an empty net begging he completely slices high and wide!
Indonesia are almost in behind, and it takes a fine piece of defending to clear for a corner. At the other end Liverpool break through Coutinho and Aspas, but the former puts it over from the edge of the box - a decent chance.
After the frantic moments with those chances, the game has just died down a little bit. The heat is probably playing a part, and while Liverpool are probing they haven't created another proper chance as yet.
Bonai has been Indonesia's best player so far and he just found a bit of space at the near post with a header, but can only direct it over.
There are a load of changes happening here. Fabio Borini, Martin Skrtel, Jordan Henderson, Jordan Ibe are all on. Perhaps among others, but those are the ones I caught a glimpse of.
Raheem Sterling, who also came on, strikes for goal from some distance on his right foot, but directs it well high and wide of target. That's his loosener...
The second half has been far less exciting than the first, but that's understandable. It's hot, it's a pre-season game and there have now been a lot of different players on the pitch.
Another change for the hosts here, with skipper Roby making way for Ferdinand Sinaga.
OFF THE BAR!The cross from the right from Assaidi first finds Borini, who swings and misses. It then falls to Sterling and he clips the top of the bar - he probably should have done better, but it was by no means an easy chance.
Mignolet has probably his first bit of work to do in the second half, as he gathers a long ball over the top. The Indonesians are a little desperate in defence now but Ibe cannot work a chance with Assaidi and the hosts break.
The game has settled into a very slow pace now. My pre-match prediction of 5-0 looks a little ridiculous right about now - the longer this goes on the tougher it will be to score as the conditions have their say.
CHANCE! Another effort for Sterling. He goes to the near post with full power instead of across the keeper, but can only find the side netting. The ball to Borini across was on, but he only had eyes for goal.
Liverpool win a free kick with a nice bit of skill by Sterling to the right of the box before being brought time. Henderson's free kick is awful and is headed away at the near post. Liverpool get the ball back but they're now at the half-way line.
GOAL! Indonesia XI 0-2 Liverpool (Raheem Sterling)
A rare foray forward for Indonesia there as Sinaga strikes low from about 30 yards, but it's deflected wide for a corner, from which Wisom heads away to Ibe. Ibe has pace to burn and he drives down the left before finding Assaidi, who in turn lays it to Sterling to slot into the empty net. A fine goal.
Three additional minutes have been indicated, and we're into the first of them.
Liverpool are still pressing high as the game reaches its conclusion. A final chance for Bonai to cross, this time from the left, but he can't find a red shirt and I think Indonesia will end without luck.
FULL-TIME: Indonesia XI 0-2 Liverpool
Well it wasn't vintage Liverpool, but they did more than enough here to emerge victorious. They were never really in trouble and came through the test well enough.
Thanks for joining me for this one and please do stick around on site for all the latest sporting action! Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
