It was one of those moments that makes you either stand up from your chair or fall back into it, and for Christian Benteke the perfect way to mark his first appearance for Liverpool. Shortly after half-time, and finding himself just outside Swindon’s area, the striker collected a pass on his chest and with the ball in mid air, thundered a right-foot volley into the top corner of the net. Pre-season or not, it was some goal and some way for the £32.5m man to introduce himself to a new set of fans.
Certainly the away contingent who filled the Adkins Family stand were delighted with the goal that had just been scored in front of them, and for Benteke there may have been a sense of relief given how this contest had gone for him to that point. The Belgian’s display had been scratchy to say the least and, in fairness, what could have been expected from someone playing his first meaningful football for some weeks having been the subject of a drawn-out transfer from Aston Villa.
There was a very first touch that was miscontrolled, then a failure to read a cross, before a shot from close range that was struck too close to the opposition goalkeeper, Lawrence Vigouroux.
“What a waste of money” came the chant from the home supporters. They could only look on in shock and awe, however, when Benteke collected João Teixeira’s stabbed pass on 48 minutes and with a swing of his right boot showed in part why Liverpool decided to make the 24-year-old the second most expensive signing in their history. “You won’t see too many better goals – that was top-level technique,” said Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager. “Overall he looked fairly sharp considering. He’s a real presence for us. I was impressed by him.”
Rodgers also had warm words for Roberto Firmino, the other of Liverpool’s major summer acquisitions making a first appearance. The Brazilian was signed from Hoffenheim for £29m in mid-June but has had to wait until now to show what he can do having been involved at the Copa América.
His day looked as if it was going to come to a quick end when, after 90 seconds, and having run on to Lucas Leiva’s first-time pass, he crumpled under a challenge from Vigouroux. The 23-year-old soon got back to his feet, however, and showed why he developed a reputation for being an energetic and creative presence during his four and a half years in the Bundesliga.
Initially positioned on the left of a three-man attack, with Lazar Markovic on the right and Benteke the central striker, Firmino had the licence to roam and did just that, consistently moving across and through Swindon’s defence during the first half. “You can see he [Firmino] wants to create and he has a wonderful touch,” said Rodgers. “Whenever we were in and around the box, he looked a threat. And he wants to work hard. I was pleased with him.”
Benteke and Firmino were taken off on 69 minutes and it is now to be seen if they again feature from the start when Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign away to Stoke next Sunday.
Rodgers claims he all but knows his team for that, and on the basis of the pre-season programme, which has involved four fixtures as part of a tour to Australia and Asia as well as a 2-0 victory over HJK Helsinki 24 hours prior this game, it is likely he will go with a 4-3-3 formation. Who the three attackers will be is unclear, and it should not be assumed Benteke and Firmino will start given their relative lack of fitness and the pre-season form of fellow summer arrivals Danny Ings and Divock Origi. Then there is the 19-year-old winger Jordon Ibe, who has well and truly caught the eye during the summer.
One player who appears certain to miss out against Stoke, however, is Joe Allen after the Wales midfielder was forced to leave the field here after just 12 minutes due to a suspected tweaked hamstring.
This was a less than convincing display by Liverpool who showed typical defensive sloppiness to allow Jonathan Obika to equalise for Swindon on 63 minutes but secured a late winner through Sheyi Ojo after Vigouroux, who is on trial from the visitors, made a hash of the shot. Rodgers and the travelling fans appeared happy enough at the end, however, given the contributions of Benteke and Firmino. They both showed they can do it on a warm Sunday in Swindon. Now for the real tests.
