MUNICH: Liverpool maintained their unbeaten preseason record with an impressive 3-0 win against Bayern Munich yesterday in the Audi Cup tournament at the Allianz Arena.
With the victory, Liverpool set the stage for a final showdown with Atletico Madrid today. Earlier, Atletico Madrid rallied to defeat Napoli 2-1.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored a goal each in the first half before Daniel Sturridge added a third in the 83rd minute when the outcome was already beyond doubt. Sturridge though was withdrawn almost immediately after the goal with an apparent injury.
Salah played alongside Mane for the first time since arriving from AS Roma for a club-record fee in June, and the duo used their blistering pace to devastating effect.
Mane found the net in the 7th minute before Salah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute as he headed in at the back post. Sturridge then made it 3-0 with an audacious 84th-minute lob over Sven Ulreich to complete Liverpool’s runaway win.
Forward Divock Origi and defender Joe Gomez missed the side’s two friendlies in Munich with minor injuries, but both should be fit for the opening Premier League fixture against Watford on August 12.
Mane returned from a long-term knee injury in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin last Saturday.
Ahead of the side’s friendly against German champions Bayern, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said his team are working hard towards their aim of winning the Premier League title.
The Merseyside club were in early title contention last season, six points behind leaders Chelsea at the halfway stage, but faded to finish 17 points behind the champions in fourth place.
Fernando Torres and Luciano Vietto scored to rally Atletico to victory over Napoli.