MARKO ON MARK Fleetwood 0 Liverpool 5: Marko Grujic scores on debut as Reds stun Cod Army

MARKO GRUJIC scored on his Liverpool debut in a convincing pre-season friendly win at Fleetwood.

Other goals from promising teenager Ben Woodburn and Lucas Leiva, and two from Roberto Firmino wrapped up a 5-0 victory.

The Serbian midfielder, a  £5.1million buy from Red Star Belgrade, powered a 19th minute shot into the top corner from an Alberto Moreno cross.

Playmaker Sadio Mane, bought for £30m from Southampton, was also on show and he helped set up the opening goal.

Grujic’s strike made up for Danny Ings’ 13th minute penalty miss. Fleetwood keeper Chris Neal guessed correctly to defy the striker after Grujic had been brought down by Akil Wright.

Juegen Klopp also handed starts to fellow new signing Loris Karius and Joel Matip, and included a host of Academy youngsters with Trent Alexander-Arnold lining up in midfield alongside Grujic and Kevin Stewart.

Liverpool, who made 11 changes at half-time, extended extend their lead seven minutes after the break when a quickly-taken free kick saw Lucas make a delightful turn and release Ryan Kent in the box and his low centre was turned in by Woodburn.

Woodburn went close again but this time his low curler towards the bottom corner was palmed away.

Despite herding on a brand new team, the Reds Liverpool were all over Division One Fleetwood and looked certain to improve the scoreline.

Fleetwood were scarcely an attacking threat and when they did manage to break the shackles Eliot Osborne fired straight at Adam Bogdan.

Liverpool piled on the pressure and in the 61st minute the lively Woodburn created another opening only for home defender Ashley Nadesan to clear.

But after 69 minutes Lucas swept in Liverpool’s  third after Ryan Kent’s pass picked out the Brazilian his run into the area.

And Firmino made it 4-0, slamming home a loose ball inside the box after Woodburn was foiled by Fleetwood’s replacement keeper Alex Cairns.

The excellent Woodburn has seized on a delightful through ball from Ovie Ejaria, and Cairns was off his line very early to smother his shot but the ball fell for Firmino to dig it out and fire into the back of the net.