Coutinho-
inspired
Liverpool
hammer
Dortmund
Mitch Langerak played 90 minutes and
Mustafa Amini saw some action as Borussia
Dortmund suffered a 4-0 loss at the hands of
Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Early strikes from Daniel Sturridge and new
boy Dejan Lovren, along with goals from the
outstanding Philippe Coutinho and Jordan
Henderson after the break, gave the Premier
League's runners-up an easy victory over their
below-par Bundesliga counterparts.
But it is the performances of a new-look front
three of Sturridge, Coutinho and Raheem
Sterling that will have given Liverpool boss
Brendan Rodgers most satisfaction following
Luis Suarez's big-money move to Barcelona.
Exhibiting pace, technique and relentless
movement, the trio terrorised Dortmund
throughout - and Rodgers' pleasure at their
display is likely to be in sharp contrast to the
feelings of the watching Ronald Koeman, who
brings Southampton to Anfield for their
Premier League curtain-raiser next Sunday.
It took just 10 minutes for Sturridge to open
the scoring, as he latched onto a superb
Coutinho flick before sliding the ball past
Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak with
the outside of his left foot.
Lovren added a second just four minutes later,
as he met an inswinging Steven Gerrard corner
with a firm header from six yards.
Coutinho fittingly got on the scoresheet just
three minutes after the interval, as he shot
coolly beyond Langerak from close range after
being fed by Sterling.
Liverpool saved the best for last, though, with
a dazzling piece of interplay between the front
three ending with Henderson tapping home.
With a DFL Supercup meeting against Bayern
Munich - and former hero Robert Lewandowski
- just three days away, Dortmund's abject
performance will be of concern to coach
Jurgen Klopp.
The lacklustre visitors failed to heed an early
warning of Coutinho slicing them open with a
ball to Sterling, and were punished when
Sturridge broke the deadlock.
Lovren fizzed a pass into Coutinho, who
produced a wonderful flick around the corner
to Sturridge and the striker displayed typical
composure to put Liverpool ahead with an
ice-cool finish.
Lovren ensured it was a debut to remember
shortly after with his first goal for the club,
and Gerrard went close on the stroke of half-
time as Langerak produced a fine stop to deny
his top-corner-bound 25-yard free-kick.
Rodgers' men picked up where they left off
after the break, with Coutinho deservedly
getting in on the act before Henderson
rounded off the game's best passage of play
with a simple finish on the hour.
Liverpool continued to threaten with Javier
Manquillo - another defensive debutant -
impressing at right-back, while Dortmund
toiled.
Coutinho was withdrawn to a standing ovation
with 20 minutes remaining of a game that
suggested Liverpool are dealing rather better
with the departure of their star striker than a
Lewandowski-less Dortmund.

they(liverpool) looked good and decent against dortmund but i still think they need a striker that can give at least 20goals to support sturridge, ricki lambert doesn't fit that type of striker. lovren/skrtel looked promising and decent..d new right back was also good..d midfield looked better...sturridge/coutinho/sterling was just sublime...rodgers just needs a new left back and a quality striker..liverpool for top 4 and quarter finals of ucl.