Liverpool vs. Celtic: 5 Things We Learned

Liverpool ended their preseason preparations with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Scottish Premier League (SPL) champions Glasgow Celtic at the Aviva stadium in Dublin on Saturday, with Reds head coach Brendan Rodgers certain to have learned plenty about his team after this first defeat of the summer.

However, with now less than a week to go until the Merseyside giants begin their Premier League season against Stoke City at Anfield, the Northern Irishman still has plenty to work on in training at Melwood next week if the club are to make a winning start to the new campaign.

And these are the five things we learned from Saturday’s loss in the Irish capital …

Liverpool Badly Need Agger Back, and Fast

The graceful Denmark international missed Saturday’s defeat with a knee injury sustained in last week’s 2-0 friendly win over Olympiacios in Steven Gerrard’s testimonial, meaning that Rodgers was forced to try out the previously untested partnership of Kolo Toure and Andre Wisdom at the heart of the Reds’ back four in Dublin.

And it is safe to say that the duo did not convince one little bit (see above), and in the continued absence of Slovakian centre-back Martin Skrtel as doubts continue to grow about his future at Anfield, according to Football Italia, Rodgers will be praying that Agger recovers in time for the visit of the Potters to Anfield next Saturday lunchtime.

Allen Happy to Shoulder the Defensive Midfield Responsibility

The 23-year-old appears, certainly on Saturday’s evidence, to have fully recovered following the operation the midfield player had in March to help cure a long-standing shoulder problem.

Seemingly refreshed and revitalised after a much-needed five-month layoff, the Welshman has looked like a man reborn during preseason as he looks to prove his many doubters wrong.

And if Allen carries on in this type of form, then his £15 million price tag will soon begin to look like a bargain, rather than the millstone around his neck that it often appeared to be at times last season.

Danny Boy’s Return a Welcome Relief

The England front man has not played since damaging ankle ligaments playing for his country in an international friendly against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium at the end of last season, meaning the 23-year-old had missed the Reds’ entire preseason campaign before coming on as a second-half substitute against Celtic.

And what a huge relief to Rodgers it must have been to see Sturridge back in action again, especially in light of the continued doubts surrounding the future of wantaway forward Luis Suarez.

Not only that, but the attacker’s arrival at the Aviva stadium on Saturday made an immediate impact on the Liverpool team, who suddenly looked far more threatening with the pacy Englishman once again leading the line (see above).

Now Rodgers will just be hoping Sturridge will be fit enough to start next Saturday’s top-flight encounter with Stoke.

Future of in-and-out Wide Man Still Open to Debate

Reports over the weekend in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Stewart Downing would be leaving Anfield before the summer transfer window shuts on Sep. 2, with either West Ham United or Newcastle United his likely next port of call.

However, the 28-year-old was handed one last chance to shine out wide for the Reds by Rodgers against the SPL champions on Saturday, and he turned in an impressive display on the right-hand side of attack in the manager’s favoured 4-3-3 formation.

And with the Merseysiders hardly blessed at present with effective wingers, Downing has at least given the Liverpool manager something to think about with regard to his future at Anfield this summer.

Hard to Better “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as an Anthem

Both sets of players, and everyone watching on TV as well, were treated to a truly spectacular rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” pre-match by Celtic and Liverpool fans, who each use the song as their club anthems (see above).

And to hear the legendary words belted out at full volume and with such gusto from all corners of the ground really did make the hairs on the back of one’s neck stand up, in what was a truly memorable pre-match sing along in Dublin.

Follow @Richiereds1976