Liverpool 3-1 Osasuna: Reds wrap up pre-season with win over LaLiga outfit

Liverpool were largely untroubled as they beat Osasuna 3-1 in their second match in as many days against LaLiga opposition at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp named an entirely different starting XI to that which played out a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Summer signing Ibrahima Konate featured in defence, whilst in attack Kaide Gordon, 16, started alongside Roberto Fimino and Takumi Minamino.

And it was the Japanese forward who had a huge hand in the Reds' opener after 14 minutes when his effort deflected off of Jesus Areso and looped over Juan Perez.

A short spell of Osasuna pressure followed before Firmino doubled Liverpool’s advantage midway through the first period.

After some good interplay between Kostas Tsimikas and Minamino, the former delivered a neat cross towards the Brazilian who slotted home.

Liverpool would control the remainder of the first half but were hampered when Curtis Jones was forced off through injury, just 24 hours after Andy Robertson sustained ankle ligament damage.

A chance for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came and went before Firmino added a third home strike four minutes before the break.

After bursting down the left, Minamino chipped the ball into Firmino who brought it down excellently with his chest before prodding past Perez.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s ambitious rabona attempt was the first clear-cut opportunity in a second half that saw more substitutions than chances.

Divock Origi, Thiago and Jordan Henderson all got valuable minutes under their belts before Saturday evening’s Premier League opener away to Norwich.

Osasuna pulled a goal back in the 70th minute with what was their only shot on target of the evening, with Kike’s downward header just out of Caoimhin Kelleher’s reach.

The Reds almost finished with a flourish but substitute goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was equal to Oxlade-Chamberlain’s near-post effort.

Speaking after the full-time whistle, Reds boss Klopp highlighted the importance of a full pre-season for fringe players such as Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas and Minamino.

He said: "For Taki [Minamino], it was the first pre-season with us properly; it was the first pre-season for a long time with Ox. It helps for all of them who were part of all the sessions, that helps and you can then get the games. 

"I think Ox played in six pre-season games, was part of it, Taki probably as well. You can see then how much it means. The same for yesterday when you think about Naby [Keita], it’s the same for him — that it’s very important."

With pre-season complete, attention switches to who will make Liverpool's starting XI on the opening day — where Klopp says he has plenty of competition for places.

"That’s what you need and now we have a proper situation and with how it looked tonight, come on, make the line-up for Norwich," he said.

"Who do you want to leave out after these two games? That’s how it should be. 

"The boys had to put pressure on themselves with the performances they put on the pitch and that’s what you wish for in an ideal world."