Liverpool play secret friendly against Aston Villa packed with first-team stars

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Liverpool played a secret friendly against Aston Villa on Sunday which saw a number of first-team players feature.

The behind closed doors clash was organised to provide match fitness to those players who didn't start their season opener against Norwich.

Liverpool kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win against the Canaries on Saturday evening.

Two key absentees from the matchday squad were Jordan Henderson and Thiago, who both played in the friendly the next day.

The midfielders got around 80 minutes of game time under their belts in the outing against fellow Prem side Villa.

Henderson is still returning to full fitness following the groin injury he sustained up in February.

The England international was a part of Gareth Southgate's squad for Euro 2020 but found his minutes limited as a result of the injury.

Thiago, meanwhile, missed part of pre-season with a thigh issue, which hampered his progression for the start of the season.

Although just a friendly, Reds fans will be pleased to know it was two wins from two over the weekend.

The match, which was played at Anfield, ended 4-1, with Divock Origi, Neco Williams, Curtis Jones and Kaide Gordon getting on the scoresheet.

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Origi was on the bench for the Norwich match whilst Jones was forced to miss the game because of the Premier League's concussion protocols.

The academy graduate had sustained a head injury in their final pre-season match with Spanish side Osasuna.

Like Origi, new signing Ibrahima Konate and last season's loanees Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliot also played after being on the bench at Carrow Road.

Elsewhere, Chelsea also played a secretive friendly, although their's was against non-league Weymouth.

The Blues team similarly featured players who weren't quite ready for the start of the season, such as Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Reece James.

In a shock to absolutely no one, they steamrolled their way to a 13-0 win.

  • Liverpool FC
  • Premier League
  • Aston Villa FC
  • Chelsea FC

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