Liverpool came back from 2-0 down to beat Blackpool 7-2 in their final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.Jurgen Klopp’s side, who were beaten by Arsenal on penalties in the Community Shield at Wembley last weekend, found themselves two goals down after 33 minutes against their League One opponents.CJ Hamilton broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish before Jerry Yates doubled the visitors’ advantage from the penalty spot.Fuming with what he was witnessing from his side, Klopp was quoted by The Athletic’s James Pearce as bellowing from the touchline: "Start playing the football we want to play. Start winning challenges, be in the right place, move!"The reigning Premier League champions had only won one of their three pre-season fixtures prior to Saturday’s match - a 3-0 victory over Stuttgart - and were not at the races during the first half against the Seasiders.It wasn’t as if Klopp had named a particularly weak XI. Fabinho, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah all started at Anfield.The Reds, however, pulled a crucial goal back before half-time thanks to Joel Matip’s powerful header from a James Milner cross.
And two goals in the space of as many minutes from Mane and Firmino completed the turnaround.
This was Mane’s 52nd-minute equaliser…
And here’s how Firmino put Liverpool 3-2 up in the 54th minute…
A very cheeky finish by Firmino, there.
Harvey Elliott then got in on the act, netting a fourth goal with just over 20 minutes remaining…
And moments later it was 5-2. Takumi Minamino produced a composed finish past Blackpool’s substitute goalkeeper Jack Sims from close range…
Divock Origi netted Liverpool’s sixth goal of the afternoon in the closing stages…
Before Sepp van den Berg completed the rout after being picked out by Elliott...
While it was only a pre-season friendly, it was important for Liverpool to return to winning ways following last month’s 2-2 draw against Salzburg and defeat to Arsenal.
Klopp’s men begin the defence of their Premier League title next Saturday when they go head-to-head with Marcelo Bielsa’s newly-promoted Leeds United.
Eight days after that, they face a tough trip to Chelsea, before ending the month with a home clash against the Gunners.