Liverpool complete Asian tour undefeated

Reds prove too strong for Thailand in Bangkok

English Premier League giants Liverpool recorded their third victory of their Asian Tour when they defeated the Thailand national team 3-0 at Rajamangala Stadium yesterday.

Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho produced a fabulous individual performance, opening the scoring with a brilliant solo goal before picking out Iago Aspas for Liverpool’s second shortly after the break.

Before the match, the Liverpool supporters in the crowd of about 50,000 sang a stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as the teams lined up, Liverpool led by captain Steven Gerrard, Thailand led by Teerasil Dangda and Chanathip Songkrasin.

The Reds had an early chance in the sixth minute when Coutinho set up striker Fabio Borini, only for Thai goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool to shut down the attack.

A minute later, Thailand’s Pokklao Anan took a long shot but Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet made the save.

Liverpool fans finally had cause to celebrate in the 16th minute when Coutinho scored the first goal of the match, deftly evading Adul Lasoh’s attempt to block and putting the Reds ahead 1-0.

BEC Tero’s Chanathip had a chance to equalise from long range but Liverpool’s Kolo Toure blocked the shot. As Thailand tried to play a more attacking game, Pokklao Anan had his shot cleared. In the 26th minute, Teerasil had a chance but shot wide.

The first half ended with Liverpool 1-0 ahead but that margin was doubled three minutes after the restart when Aspas beat the offside trap and found the back of the net.

A minute later, Thailand should have had their first goal but Chanathip blazed his shot over the bar.

Borini had a penalty appeal turned

Above: Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal; top right: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard dazzles the Thai defence; bottom right: Liverpool fans turned out in droves. down after being tripped by Thailand’s Arthit Daosawang but the third goal followed shortly after, Gerrard chipping over Sinthaweechai.

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez had started on the bench but came on in the 62nd minute.

Every one of Suarez’s touches was greeted with cheers from the Liverpool fans and he nearly scored a fourth goal for his side when his header from close range smashed into the crossbar.

Suarez was involved in another neat move when he set up Jordan Henderson but the Thai defence recovered to clear the ball.

Thailand maintained pressure on Liverpool throughout the second half and Chananan Pombupha had a chance to score but his shot was saved.

The Reds had one final chance to score a fourth goal — and for Gerrard to score his second — but the Liverpool skipper’s chip bounced off the crossbar.

When the final whistle blew, Liverpool had kept their unbeaten pre-season intact — without even conceding a goal.

Both Coutinho, who joined the club from Inter Milan in January, and Aspas, a new signing from Celta Vigo, scored their second goals of the tour in a welcome pre-season boost for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

‘‘It was an excellent game and there were three great goals,’’ Rodgers said. ‘‘Our intensity was just right. All credit to the Thai team, they played very well.’’