Swindon vs. Liverpool: Score and Reaction from 2015 Pre-Season Friendly

Liverpool beat Swindon Town 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at the County Ground to continue preparations for the new Premier League season. Goals from Christian Benteke and Sheyi Ojo won it for the Reds after Jonathan Obika had found an equaliser for Town.

Benteke's wonder goal gave Liverpool fans ample reasons to cheer just after half-time. He hit a stunning volley to light up what had been a drab game.

Indeed, the only notable incident of the first half was Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen hobbling off inside the first 15 minutes. Still, Liverpool just about edged the overall general play, as the Reds' litany of playmakers kept the ball and manufactured chances.

But despite Lazar Markovic and big-money summer signing Roberto Firmino pulling the strings, it still took some genuine individual brilliance from Benteke and some late luck from Ojo to bail the Premier League side out.

Brendan Rodgers gave starts to new boys Benteke and Firmino in attack, per Squawka Football's official Twitter feed:

Meanwhile, Swindon actually started Liverpool's on-loan goalkeeper, Lawrence Vigouroux. Perhaps more notably, Anton Rodgers, son of the Liverpool manager, took a seat on the Swindon bench.

The Reds stumbled through the first half, although Benteke did see a few chances come his way. But the beefy Belgian couldn't take them.

Liverpool Echo writer Ian Doyle detailed one such miss:

Doyle also noted how fellow high-priced import Firmino was making a solid early impression: 

The Brazilian's creativity was certainly causing Swindon problems. But for the most part, Vigouroux was up to the challenge.

His efforts even produced a bizarrely comical moment for the player competing against his parent club, per Squawka Football:

Liverpool's early momentum was stunted by Allen's injury. He was replaced before a quarter of an hour had elapsed by Joao Carlos Teixeira.

The Reds stayed quiet for most of the first 45 minutes. Firmino, Markovic and Emre Can produced slick passing combinations but couldn't consistently unlock Town's back four.

Things changed quickly in the second half when Benteke rifled a quality volley into the top corner. 101 Great Goals tweeted this Vine of the memorable strike:

Doyle was impressed by the former Villa man's technique:

Benteke thought he'd doubled his advantage and Liverpool's tally moments later. But the linesman's flag correctly ruled the goal out. 

The Reds soon rued the decision when Swindon found an equaliser. Striker Obika hit a curler to draw the League One side level.

Rodgers' response to the goal was to haul off Benteke and Firmino among a trio of changes made with the start of Premier League action in mind. This Is Anfield tweeted the moves:

Frankly, things seemed destined for a draw until one of those substitutes got lucky. Winger Ojo's shot ended up nestling in the back of the net after a goalkeeping blunder spoiled Vigouroux's previously solid day.

Doyle described the litany of errors that gifted Liverpool the winner:

After the game, Rodgers, like many others, was naturally keen to talk about Benteke's fantastic strike:

He also provided a worrying update on Allen's status:

But the Kop boss was left suitably impressed by Firmino, a player he'll be counting on to make a quick transition to the Premier League and have a major impact in the new season:

Liverpool start their league campaign with a tricky-looking away trip to Stoke City. It was the site of the humiliating 6-1 thumping that ended the Reds' last campaign.

The Potters have since bolstered their talent thanks to the arrival of ex-Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay. They'll provide another stern test.

But at least Rodgers can be impressed by what he saw from Benteke and Firmino. The big summer recruits looked sharp throughout this game.