Tranmere Rovers 0-4 Liverpool: Ben Woodburn and Marko Grujic net in friendly win

Liverpool kicked off their pre-season with a routine 4-0 win against Tranmere as Jurgen Klopp fielded a different XI in each half.

James Milner gave Liverpool the lead from the penalty spot late in the first half before Marko Grujic curled in a second from distance shortly before the break.

Substitute Pedro Chirivella turned in a third in the second half after Dominic Solanke's turn and shot, before Ben Woodburn slotted home a late penalty.

Jurgen Klopp will have been pleased with a consistent if far from clinical performance from his side after making 10 half-time changes.

Liverpool controlled the first half and should have taken the lead when Joel Matip fired over from close range after a Milner corner.

The visitors made light work of stretching Tranmere of the National League open, with Trent Alexander-Arnold finding space again and again down Liverpool's right and testing Rovers with a succession of quality crosses.

The breakthrough came when goalkeeper Scott Davies brought down Sheyi Ojo in the six-yard box and Milner slipped the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

Grujic extended the lead in the 42nd minute, picking up the ball 30 yards from goal and manoeuvring enough space to bend a whipping finish past Davies.

Klopp's half-time changes gave Liverpool an added gear after the break, and the Spaniard Chirivella added a third tapping into an empty goal after Solanke's well-worked effort had been parried by Davies.

Woodburn added a late fourth from the spot after being fouled in the box by Davies as Liverpool made the difference in class show in the sun at Prenton Park.

Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold

The right-back played most of the first half almost as a wide forward, and it will have been refreshing for Liverpool fans to see the readiness with which he lifted his head whenever he got on the ball. His delivery was more often than not excellent and with just a little more consistency this could turn out to be a breakthrough season for the youngster.

What next?

Liverpool travel to face Wigan in their next pre-season match on Friday night.