[lfc-news] Nando and Milan get Reds off to a winner - Official Site

Official LFC Website, 9 July 2005
NANDO AND MILAN GET REDS OFF TO A WINNER
By Mark Platt

Liverpool warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League opener by easing
into their pre-season programme with a 4-3 win over Wrexham at the
Racecourse Ground on Saturday afternoon.

In what was the Reds' first competitive run-out of the summer they came
from behind against the League Two outfit to register victory on a
sweltering day in North Wales.

Fernando Morientes (2) and Milan Baros (2) were the Liverpool scorers as
Rafa Benitez handed debuts to new signings Jose Reina and Bolo Zenden.

The game also marked Steven Gerrard's first public appearance since
pledging his future to the club earlier in the week and he appeared in
good form during the 45 minutes he was on the pitch.

The aforementioned trio all received a warm reception from the
travelling Liverpudlians who seemed to be in party mood as the European
Cup was paraded prior to kick-off.

But those same fans were in for a shock after just seven minutes when
Mark Jones exploited a gaping hole in the centre of defence and duly
rounded Reina to open the scoring.

The equalising goal arrived on the quarter hour mark. Darren Potter
crossed from the right and Morientes tapped in from close-range. Six
minutes before the interval the Spanish striker doubled his tally with a
close-range header from a Steven Gerrard corner.

Rafa rang the changes at half-time, making nine substitutions, but it
did not disrupt the attacking rhythm that had been building steadily
before the break. Within 20 minutes of the restart Milan Baros equalled
the feat of Morientes and notched a brace as Liverpool raced into a 4-1
lead.

His first came following a mistake in the Wrexham defence and the Czech
striker kept his cool to skilfully round the keeper before slotting the
ball into an empty net. His second was more spectacular and whistled
into the top corner after he stuck out a leg to divert a Xabi Alonso
through ball.

Despite the three-goal deficit the home side, to their credit, refused
to throw in the towel and by hitting back to snatch two late consolation
goals they ensured a nail-biting finale to what had been a gentle
pre-season stroll.

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