Liverpool FC new signing Roberto Firmino scored a hat trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Welsh side TNS at Melwood training ground on Monday.
Firmino returned to Liverpool FC training a bit later than most of the squad due to his involvement with the Brazil Copa America squad and thus, is some weeks behind his team mates in terms of fitness.
Firmino was given his competitive debut with a 12-minute outing in Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Stoke. But, manager Brendan Rodgers felt the 23-year-old, signed from Hoffenheim, and other players were short on match practice and needed extra work.
Liverpool FC win 5-1
Liverpool FC beat TNS 5-1 courtesy of the Firmino hat-trick and goals from new signing Danny Ings and Lazar Markovic.
Liverpool FC’s German U21 international, Emre Can, who also returned to Melwood later after playing in the European Under-21 Championships but had played for 27 minutes at Stoke, also featured along with Adam Bogdan, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, Divock Origi, Jordan Rossiter, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure.
A behind-closed-doors match saw @Roberto_Firmino hit a hat-trick at Melwood today: http://t.co/wECMyeGJ3u #LFC pic.twitter.com/GK5NW44TQh
a Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 10, 2015
.
Sakho had missed the Stoke tie due to his wife expecting their child where as Lucas, alongside Lazar Markovic did not travel with the squad to Stoke, presumably due to the fitness issues. Albero Moreno, Toure, Origi, Ings, Bogdan were all unused substitute in the Premier League game and were given a run out to up their fitness.