Liverpool prepared for Project Restart with a ruthless win on Thursday afternoon.
The Premier League champions elect welcomed Blackburn Rovers to Anfield yesterday and thumped the Championship outfit 6-0.
Jurgen Klopp’s side raced into a three-goal lead at the break, courtesy of goals from Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino – his first for Liverpool since joining in January – and Naby Keita.
Second-half goals from Joel Matip and Ki-Jana Hoever made it a rout for the Reds, before 18-year-old Leighton Clarkson added a sixth late on.
Clarkson showed magnificent composure to get on the scoresheet, knocking the ball over an on-rushing defender, biding his time in front of goal and ultimately slotted home.
Here’s how Liverpool fans reacted to the goal on Twitter:
Clarkson is one of the club’s most exciting teenagers and he made his senior debut in a 5-0 League Cup defeat by Aston Villa back in December, playing just 13 minutes.
But former Under-23 boss Neil Critchley – who took charge of a number of League Cup and FA Cup games – played him from the start in the 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town a month later.
He seems to have a big future and it’ll be interesting to see if Klopp takes him on the next pre-season tour.
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