Hello, and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the International Champions Cup between
Liverpool and
Barcelona.
If you thought that the high-quality friendly fixtures were over in light of the Football League season getting underway, then think again! With 15 of the 17 matches having already being played, the International Champions Cup is coming to an end but today's showdown in North London could potentially be the best of the lot as Liverpool go toe-to-toe at Wembley Stadium.
Whether they win this game or not won't have any lasting relevance on either side's upcoming campaigns but this is definitely a match that both will want to win. Liverpool face Arsenal next Sunday and Barcelona start their La Liga defence not long afterwards so both
Jurgen Klopp and
Luis Enrique will be hoping to see their players approaching top form and fitness in this encounter.
Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the two starting lineups...
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner, Wijnaldum, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane
We are still awaiting news of the Barcelona side so let's run out through the Liverpool team. Changes have been kept to a minimum with Klopp deciding to retain much of the team that started against Roma on Monday night. Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho have been brought into the team with Sheyi Ojo and
Daniel Sturridge dropping out. More on the latter in the next few minutes...
Liverpool have said on their official Twitter page that Sturridge misses out with a "slight hip issue". They stress that it's only a precaution but it's enough to see him sidelined for this glamour fixture.
Just for clarification, you may have seen on our fixture page that this game kicks off at 5pm, BST, but it's lies. We were close, though - it is scheduled to start at 5.15pm, so we were just 15 minutes out.
BARCELONA XI: Ter Stegen; Vidal, Mascherano, Mathieu, Camara; Busquets, D.Suarez, Turan; Messi, L.Suarez, Munir
Luis Enrique has included quite a few youngsters in the games against Celtic and Leicester City but that has changed today. Only Juan Camara remains in the team as the Barca coach decides that it is the right time to reintroduce the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets to the starting lineup.
Lionel Messi is also present while
Luis Suarez lines up against his former team for the first time since leaving in 2014.
Talking of Suarez, here's the Uruguayan having a reunion with Philippe Coutinho in the tunnel at Wembley.
BARCELONA SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Masip, Douglas, Piqué, Rakitic, Iniesta, Mujica, Samper, Digne, S.Roberto, Alfaro, Vermaelen
We are yet to get our hands on the list of substitutes for Liverpool but Sturridge aside, it's likely to include the remaining players from the squad that travelled to the United States. Up to 11 replacements can be made in International Champions Cup fixtures so expect to see the majority of them in the second half.
Further to that, we are hearing that neither Ojo or Christian Benteke feature in the squad today. The reason for Ojo's exclusion is likely to be fitness-based but the absence of Benteke suggests that he is a million miles from ever appearing again in a Liverpool shirt. Klopp has insisted that he won't be sold on the cheap but the Belgian is yet to see any playing time in pre-season, despite appearances on the bench. The likes of Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United are likely to be watching with interest...
We have still got just over 30 minutes to go until kickoff at Wembley Stadium so that's more than enough time for you to have a read through each side's match reports from earlier in pre-season. Liverpool's results can be found by
clicking here while our take on Barcelona's victories over Celtic and Leicester City can be
located here.
Lionel Messi usually takes centre stage in any football match but today it is the turn of his fellow South American magician
Luis Suarez. We will have more on his time at Liverpool over the next 15 minutes or so but for now, see what he has had to say about his former club by
clicking here.
Suarez's love affair with Liverpool lasted just three-and-a-half years but it will be a period that will never be forgotten by anyone associated with the Merseyside giants. There was controversy at times but his 82 goals in 133 games contributed to the Reds winning the League Cup in 2012 and going oh so near to lifting the Premier League title in 2014. During that campaign, he netted 31 goals in 33 outings during an astonishing season and although he disappointed the club's supporters when departing for Camp Nou, he deserved the warmest of receptions when they reunite on the Wembley turf very shortly.
Unconfirmed reports have just emerged online of Benteke potentially being included in a bid to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario, who starred for Portugal at Euro 2016. Definitely one to keep an eye out for!
There's a lot of love for Suarez today. You get the impression that he would be welcome back at Anfield...
PREDICTION! After witnessing the majority of this Liverpool side struggle to contain Roma on Monday night, I don't hold out much hope for them holding off Barcelona. The Catalan giants could run riot this afternoon and we are tipping them to run win by a 4-1 scoreline. It's a bold prediction but we think Liverpool need more defensive stability in the middle of the park, especially for fixtures such as this one.
In the grand scheme of things, the International Champions Cup doesn't mean a whole lot but Barcelona can still win the competition with victory today. However, they would need to prevail by a four-goal margin although I am obliged to tell you that is possible given I have just predicted a 4-1 win...
Right on schedule, the two teams make their way out of the tunnel to a sun-kissed Wembley Stadium. It's a sell-out too so the atmosphere should be electric.
There's time for a bit of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before we get going. It doesn't have quite the same effect as in Anfield, however...
Liverpool get us underway and already, there's been a chance...
CHANCE! Mane and Lallana combine down the right flank before the summer signing drills the ball across goal. Barcelona get a block in but the ball falls to Wijnaldum, who volleys wide from 10 yards. He should hit the target at the very least.
Barcelona have barely had a touch so far. Liverpool are biding their time in possession before taking the direct approach to threaten in the final third. Mane looks particularly lively.
We are just six minutes through this match and we've already had two flat footballs. I hope there are plenty in reserve.
Liverpool are targeting the through-ball either side of Mathieu. Have they identified him as the weak link in the Barca backline? Luis Enrique is donned out in a t-shirt and jeans and the casual approach to his dress sense is being passed over to his players. They haven't got going yet. Mignolet hasn't been forced into any work whatsoever.
Liverpool just tried their best to out-Barca Barca on the edge of the penalty area but Firmino was eventually dispossessed as he attempted to glide into the box. Still only that Wijnaldum volley to speak of in terms of shots.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Mane)
Liverpool get the goal that their play in the opening 15 minutes has deserved. Lallana won possession on the halfway line before advancing towards goal and passing to Firmino. The Brazilian played the ball back to his teammate who in turned slipped Mane in behind the Barcelona defence and after a quick touch to control the ball, the summer signing smashed his shot into the top corner from 10 yards. Very good goal.
Liverpool are enjoying so much joy down the right flank. Camara and Munir have definitely been identified as weak links defensively. Mane and Clyne combined again before the full-back crossed towards the back post, only to see the ball headed behind for a corner.
Just to clarify, Messi and Suarez are still on the pitch.
WOODWORK! Sorry, Liverpool fans. No more sarcasm from me.
Turan fires the ball into Suarez, who in turn sends a pass into Messi. The Argentine is clear of the defender but his shot across goal from 10 yards hits the post and bounces clear.
Busquets win a free kick for Barca around 35 yards from goal and Messi is all over it. However, the creative genius opts to cross rather than shoot and Liverpool deal with the danger.
SAVE! Barca are cranking up pressure now. A silky move ends with Turan having a low drive dealt with by Mignolet but the rebound falls at his feet and he just score. However, Milner somehow gets across to get the block in and Liverpool survive. It only seems a matter of time now. The real Barcelona have decided to show up.
CHANCE! Coutinho should do much better here! He dispossesses Vidal before advancing towards the penalty area. He has options to his right but after opting to shoot, he blazes his effort high over the crossbar.
Liverpool aren't giving Barcelona any peace. Emre Can is very effective when Klopp sets up like this. That said, I still insist he needs a more defensive-minded player alongside him. Far too often, Wijnaldum is getting caught further forward than he needs to be.
A sprinkler has decided to come on! It's next to the linesman and he gets a soaking before it's eventually turned off. It amused the crowd anyway...
SAVE! Excellent goalkeeping from Mignolet! He comes in for his fair share of stick but he does superbly to get out to block Suarez's volley after the striker had been found by Munir at the back post.
SUBSTITUTION! We have an early substitution and it's Alberto Moreno coming on for James Milner. It doesn't look too serious but Klopp is being understandably cautious.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona
The half-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium and Liverpool have just about managed to keep hold of their 1-0 lead. Barcelona improved during the final 25 minutes but they have been made to pay for a slow start.
Slowly but surely, the two teams are starting to make their way back out onto the pitch at Wembley. It looks like there will be plenty of alterations. Divock Origi is going to be one of them.
Barcelona get us back underway. I will bring you up-to-date with the changes as we go on.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Barcelona (Mascherano own goal)
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Barcelona (Origi)
I am requesting permission to change my pre-match prediction...
Liverpool are effectively home and hosed in this match after two goals in the space of a minute. The first was created by Mane, who dispossessed Camara before crossing for Henderson, only to see Liverpool old boy Mascherano slide the ball into his own net.
Moments later, Can out-muscled Busquets in the centre of the pitch and after playing in Origi, the Belgian did the rest as he fired the ball into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
CHANCE! It really should be 4-0. Liverpool are running riot and after Barcelona lose possession again, Firmino is set free on goal. He has all the time in the world but his shot towards the far corner doesn't curl and ends up going wide. It's a bad miss. Fortunately for the Brazilian, his side are already three goals to the good.
I don't think the Liverpool supporters know how to react to this scoreline. They are absolutely battering a Barcelona side that includes Messi, Suarez, Turan, Busquets and Mascherano. Liverpool can win this by a cricket score if they want to. I'm not exaggerating.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Luis Enrique has seen enough. Pique, Iniesta, Rakitic and Digne have all been introduced to the action. Mascherano and Busquet are among the players to leave the action.
Since those substitutions, Barcelona have seen a lot more of the ball and for the first time in a while, Liverpool are on the back foot. That could become the theme of the match for the final 25 minutes. Klopp will want to see how his team stand up to the pressure of defending on their own 18-yard box.
We've barely seen Suarez at all this afternoon. You'd be forgiven for thinking he was taking it easy on his former side...
The Liverpool fans have started a Mexican wave inside Wembley. They must be bored by the lack of threat from Barcelona. Who'd have thought they'd ever be thinking that! I don't think we are far away from the next lot of substitutions.
CHANCE! Mane has been superb in this match and he very nearly adds his second of the match. He jinked his way past three Barcelona players to get into the penalty area but his attempted curler towards the far corner went just wide.
SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Luis Suarez to leave the action and he gets a standing ovation from the Liverpool fans. On days like this, he must wish he was still a Liverpool player.
Just 10 minutes to go at Wembley now. Another goal is looking unlikely now with Barca more intent on playing the ball around. In all fairness, this has been a friendly played at a decent pace so it's not surprise a few of the starters are lagging.
Today's attendance has been announced as 89,845. It could have probably sold out two times over!
That sums up Munir's game. He turns sharply around 30 yards out but his shot is sliced and miles wide of the target.
This result also means that Paris Saint-Germain will win the International Champions Cup. Barca needed to win by a four-goal margin and I feel confident in predicting that they won't do that.
There will be two minutes of added-on time. Lovren has just been forced off through injury. Looks like a hamstring problem.
GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (Grujic)
FULL TIME: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
The full-time whistle goes at Wembley and Liverpool have ran out convincing 4-0 winners. The fourth was arguably the best of the lot with Markovic crossing for Grujic to send a looping header into the far corner and it sealed a highly impressive win for the Reds.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you tomorrow for the Community Shield! Goodbye for now.