VIRGIL VAN DIJK won the battle of the Old Bhoys as Liverpool triumphed 3-1 over Lyon, with Moussa Dembele and Jason Denayer in the team, in a pre-season friendly in Geneva last night.
The Anfield side’s £75million former Celtic central defender came on just after the hour mark to help ease Jurgen Klopp’s to victory after four games without a win as they prepare for the Community Shield encounter with Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Van Dijk was on the substitutes’ bench when Dembele, linked with a big-money switch to Manchester United, was involved in the opening goal for the French outfit in the third minute.
IT TAKES TWO TO TUSSLE…ex-Celt Jason Denayer thwarts Liverpool’s Mo Salah last night.
Brazilian international keeper Alisson made a rare blunder to present the ball at the feet of the ex-Hoops hitman who was then brought down for a penalty-kick that was converted by Memphis Depay.
Roberto Firmino spared the blushes of his goalie with the leveller before a Joachim Andersen own goal and a Harry Wilson thunderbolt gave them a triumph in their final pre-season warm-up game which also featured Scotland skipper Andrew Roberston as a second-half replacement.
Klopp, who has told Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard there will be no chance of a loan deal for Ryan Kent this season, spoke to LFC TV afterwards and said: “It was good to finish on a high – it was important. A lot of things were really good, although the first goal we conceded was like slapstick. Welcome back Alisson!
“He’s looked brilliant in training and looked brilliant in the game, but it was just one situation – he just needs to get used to his gloves again.”
