Liverpool have it easy

Just like Celtic, Liverpool have been finding it difficult to keep their Irish fans happy these last few largely trophyless years. Unlike the Scots, however, who looked dull and demoralised on their recent trip to Dublin, Roy Evans's side can at least still send their supporters on this side of the water to paradise in the annual procession of preseason friendlies. More significant success awaits.

Last night at Tolka Park the English side banged in six goals, generally dismantled a local side of part-timers and unveiled the man they hope will complete their Premiership jigsaw. What more, short of a major trophy, could your average self-respecting Dublin based fan possibly have hoped for.

What's more, against a team thrown together from two different sides, the visitors' margin at the end could have been more with Oyvind Leonhardsen denied the penalty he clearly deserved when Declan Geoghegan took him down inside the area after just seven minutes. Danny Murphy headed wide from close in after Mark Kennedy had set him up nicely midway through the half, and the Dubliner turned the ball back for a team-mate after Steve McManaman's cross had sent him clean through on goal just before the break. After it things were, on the whole, only to get worse for the locals.

Liverpool did find the net twice during those first 45 minutes - the newly signed Norwegian slipped the ball past Seamus Kelly from close range and then set up Kennedy for the easiest of tap-ins. Their new arrivals were, in fact, all making an impact with Paul Ince settling quickly into his ball-winning role in midfield and young Murphy displaying boundless energy as he muscled his way into the action at every available opportunity.

The Irish, on the other hand, found themselves chasing the ball from a very early stage as the quicker and more polished and fitter looking Premiership outfit spread the ball around a rolling six man midfield and attacking unit that continually uncovered space behind the Dubliners' defenders.

Up front Dessie Baker impressed but, with little by way of support, particularly after Pascal Vaudequin was withdrawn at half-time, he was repeatedly overwhelmed by the Liverpool defence. The loudest cheer of the night came on one such occasion when the always larger than life (well, most forms of it anyway) Neil Ruddock dispossessed the Irishman just inside the area.

But for a low driven shot from Pat Fenlon in the 37th minute, in fact, Mark James might just as well have brought his Gameboy onto the pitch with him for, having done well to block that and gather at the second attempt, he had precious little to do for the rest of the match.

At the other end, however, it was all happening with Seamus Kelly struggling to hold his own in the first period and his replacement, Stephen O'Brien, not really managing to in the second. It was the goalkeeper's error when attempting to trap a firmly struck back pass in the 65th minute that allowed Murphy to poach his side's third goal and as those in front of him crumbled through the closing stages he was powerless to prevent the lead being doubled in the space of 12 minutes.

Leonhardsen made it four after 76 minutes after a fine long ball from Phil Babb and after Kennedy added a fifth with a firmly struck shot into the corner his attempted backheel past O'Brien for his hat-trick was finished off instead by McManaman.