I must preface this article with the fact that this match was arranged as a purely commercial decision by Preston with the attachment of Bill Shankly's 100 year anniversary anniversato be celebrated by both clubs where he played and managed with success.
Nirth End typically start preseason against non league opposition building up to a top flight or Championship ckub towards the end of the friendlies. The lure of half of the gate receipts of a crowd in excess of 20,000 and tv money from ESPN meant that that Preston would have been foolish to turn down this opportunity.
Call me a cynic but it was no surprise to me that Preston confirmed twi important sugnings just days prior to the gane after it was clear that a sell out was on the cards.
The gane was not much if a contest but fans should not be too disheartened as Preston will not come up against such gifted players in League One but they do need to cut out the mistakes.
Effectively it was two dufferent games with bith sides making major changes at the half. New signing Davies watched from the stands whilst Monakana and Keane were not risked.
Laird started on the keft wing ahead of Buchanan. New signings Clarke and Humphreys played on the right. Welsh captained the side with Mouinho in midfield. Garner and Beavon played up top.
Liverpool took an early lead when Liverpool fan Welsh fouled in the box. Coutinho converted from the spot and from that moment on the game was nit in doubt.
Humphreys showed his pace which troubled the visitors but they were otherwise in complete control with their passing game making it difficult for Preston in the hot sun.
Ibe scored the second soon after from the edge if the box. Rudd should have done better and will be disappointed to have been beaten so easily at his near pist fron range. Hopefully it is just rustiness.
At the half both sides changed changed the majority of their team. Davies abd Sheriff played at the back. Wroe captained the side alongside Byrom with Holmes abd Hume on the wing. Cummins appeared to play the lone striker with Beardsley in support. Croasdale also came on late on to be given his first team action.
Preston were undone by the pace of Stirling who beat the offside trap to race down on goal and slot past Stuckmann and the full away end of Liverpool supporters.
Aspas scored the fourth from range with another shot where this time Stuckmann should have saved. I will again put this down to being his first outing since last season.
North End now travel to Chorley abd Bamber Bridge in midweek where the real work starts ahead of the new season. The Liverpool results should not dishearten the fans as asthese were two teams with quite different ambitions ahead of the season.