One winner and one loser with implications from Liverpool’s win over Blackburn

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Liverpool eased to a pre-season friendly victory over Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers thanks to second half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Lazar Markovic on an impressive evening for the Reds.

Jurgen Klopp took a strong squad to Ewood Park with Georgino Wijnaldum and Danny Ings the only notable absences due to injury concerns.

Naby Keita and Lazar Markovic were two of the stand out performers on the evening, but who else exceeded expectations and let themselves down?

Winner: Daniel Sturridge

Much has been made of Sturridge’s future after yet another injury hit campaign in which he failed to make an impact on loan at West Brom, but the striker has tole the Mirror that he expects to remain at Anfield in the 2018/19 campaign.

On Thursday evening he wore the captain’s armband and impressed throughout, recording a goal and assist in his 45 minutes of action as he continued to feature in every pre-season match to date.

“He has looked really good for us and with the armband in the second half it’s completely normal, the guy who is the longest-serving for the club and most experienced, so that was clear. So he played a really good game and helped us a lot, and the link-up play especially with Naby was brilliant, so good game.”

Jurgen Klopp was impressed.

Sturridge’s sharp movement and pinpoint finishing, one golden chance aside, were reminiscent of the England man at his best and showed that he may be the back-up striker that Jurgen Klopp is looking for.

He clearly still has work to do to prove his fitness, but there won’t be much more that Sturridge can do in pre-season action to stake his claim and prove a point.

Loser: Dominic Solanke

The young striker has been questioned ever since his arrival on Merseyside as an under 17 World Champion, scoring just once in 27 appearances in his debut season, and his display against Blackburn did little to boost his hopes.

Solanke did win a first half penalty, which saw David Raya redeem himself for hauling the forward down by saving James Milner’s effort, but missed several guilt edged opportunities.

The former Chelsea man looked low on confidence and was off the pace throughout on a big night where he would have been well aware that he had the chance to show that he should be ahead of Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings in the pecking order.