Tranmere v Liverpool: Live match blog
Liverpool's first pre-season friendly of 2016-17 involved a short journey to face Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park, on the day Jürgen Klopp signed a new long-term contract.
Danny Ings marked the occasion - and another step in his return from injury - by scoring the only goal of the game with a clinical finish late in the second half to secure the win.
Goodnight from Prenton Park
So, that's it from our live coverage from Tranmere as Liverpool began pre-season with a 1-0 win over their near-neighbours thanks to a Danny Ings strike.
We'll be back with the Reds on Wednesday night when we contest our second fixture of the summer schedule at Fleetwood Town.
Join us then.
Analyse that...
You can find all the stats you could possibly need from tonight's game below.
Full Time
Winning start for the Reds
So a good work out for Liverpool ends in a 1-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.
Danny Ings' second-half goal secured the result on a night when Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Loris Karius made their first appearances for the club following summer moves.
Next up for Jürgen Klopp's side in their pre-season programme is a trip to Fleetwood Town next week.
Now it's Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard's turns...
And now it's time for the Luis Garcia song... Following by Maxi Rodriguez's old ditty.
The away end at Prenton Park is going right through the 'Gary Macca' song.
Altogether now, 'Oh, we love your baldy head!'
Goal
Well, he kept knocking on the door - and now Danny Ings finally has his goal, smashing beyond Turner from close range after a magnificent run and pass down the right from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
1-0 to the Reds!
Again Ings goes close. His latest attempt - a spectacular scissor-kick from Markovic's centre - flies inches wide of the base of the post.
Ings heads off target again, this time after a magnificent pass from Chirivella sent Alexander-Arnold scampering into space down the right before he hooked the ball into the middle.
Ings meets Randall's hoisted cross with a glancing header; however, he can't get enough direction on it to trouble the goalkeeper.
A great chance for the Reds to open the scoring goes awry; Ings finds himself speeding into the area, but his attempt to place the ball into the bottom corner is foiled by a strong arm from Turner. The rebound falls for Markovic, but he cannons it against the post.
The ball breaks invitingly for Woodburn inside the area, but his attempt to drill home is saved by Turner at close quarters.
Randall finds himself in space on the right corner of the Tranmere box, but arrows a shot wide of the far post.
Liverpool FC have just released a club statement. Read it here.
A clumsy challenge from Wisdom hands Tranmere the chance to swing a free-kick into the box but the defender atones with a powerful header away.
The game has resumed its pattern of Liverpool controlling possession and Tranmere defending as deep as possible.
Alexander-Arnold is the latest Reds player to go close but his long-distance half-volley is just over the bar.
And we're back underway..
Make that 11 changes...
Adam Bogdan is also coming on for the Reds.
Changes afoot
We understand Liverpool will make 10 changes at half-time, with only Loris Karius remaining on the field from the opening 45 minutes.
So the second-half team will look a little something like this...
Karius, Randall, Wisdom, Ilori, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Stewart, Chirivella, Markovic, Woodburn, Ings.
Here are all the first-half stats from Prenton Park...
Half Time
Tranmere Rovers 0-0 Liverpool
The whistle goes and it's all square at the break on the Wirral. The Reds were the dominant force in that half but have no goals to show for their efforts.
The hosts were unlucky not to net themselves with Connor Jennings hitting the post, but they have been largely on the back foot.
Match shot
Debutant Sadio Mane in action for the Reds at Prenton Park.
Mane denied a debut goal again!
The Senegal international takes a Brannagan header into his path with a brilliant first touch but his low, curling shot is kept out by a fine save.
Mane pulls off a clever dummy before driving at the Tranmere defence again and sliding the ball to Firmino.
Unfortunately, the ball is under the Brazilian's feet and his eventual shot loops over the bar.
Encouraging signs from the Reds' No.19 and No.11, regardless of the outcome.
Mane charges at the Tranmere defence and draws two men toward him before slipping in Kent on the left-hand side of the box.
But the young winger's finish is well saved by Scott Davies, who gets out to close the angle
And now it's Liverpool's turn to go close as Cameron Brannagan sends in a curling free-kick delivery after Ryan Kent is fouled outside the box.
Lucas rises highest to head the ball on but it's a comfortable save, in truth.
Off the post!
Tranmere go close to opening the scoring as Connor Jennings' flicked header from a corner clatters back off the upright.
A let-off for the Reds.
Liverpool dominating proceedings at Prenton Park thus far, but Tranmere have had plenty of opportunity to evidence their threat on the counter.
No goals yet - but it feels like one could be on the way.
A chance for Tranmere now as Harris drives over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
Ryan Kent goes close again, this time delightfully dummying the challenge of a defender on the edge of the area before clipping just wide of the top corner.
First shot on goal of the evening as Ryan Kent creates some space for himself before cutting inside from the left and drilling towards the net. Scott Davies gets behind it, spills it, then mops up the loose ball.
Kick-Off
KICK-OFF
Here we go, then. Tranmere kick-off at Prenton Park...
Boss photo
Jürgen Klopp poses for a selfie with a young fan outside Prenton Park earlier this evening.
Kick-off delayed
The game has been delayed by 15 minutes at Prenton Park due to crowd congestion. It'll now get underway at 7.15pm.
Watch our exclusive interview with Jürgen Klopp on his contract extension below for free, or alternatively click here to read a transcript.
In opposition
Here's how our opponents Tranmere line up tonight...
Starting XI: Davies, Ridehalgh, McNulty, Ihiekwe, Vaughan, S Jennings, Harris, C Jennings, Stephenson, Kirby, Cook.
Subs: Turner, Duggan, Sutton, Gumbs, Askew, Hughes, Maynard, Mekki, Ilesanmi, Norwood, Omotola, unnamed trialist.
Watch live!
Can't get over to the Wirral this evening to watch the game? The only other place you'll be able to see every kick is with LFCTV or LFCTV GO.
Find out how you can follow the Reds' pre-season fixtures here.
Oh, and another thing...
...Lucas Leiva is the captain for the Reds tonight
Team news
So, confirmation that new signings Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Loris Karius start for the Reds against Tranmere tonight...
Liverpool: Karius, Flanagan, Matip, Lovren, Smith, Lucas, Ejaria, Brannagan, Kent, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Bogdan, Moreno, Ilori, Ings, Stewart, Wisdom, Markovic, Kane, Randall, Woodburn, Alexander-Arnold, Chirivella.
A busy day at Anfield
Friday, of course, began with the news Jürgen Klopp - and his assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz - had signed long-term contract extensions.
You can read that story in full here, in case you haven't already, and we'll have an exclusive interview with the boss coming up shortly.
Tune in and check out...
...Liverpool's first game of 2016-17 live and exclusively on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.
All the details you need to do so are right here.
Good evening from the other side of the Mersey...
Hello. Well, that break went over quickly, didn't it? Go anywhere nice on your holidays?
Liverpool are back in action tonight, just a little over seven weeks on from their last outing in the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel.
There've been a few changes since then, most notably the arrivals of Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Loris Karius, but one thing has - and will - remain the same: the Liverpoolfc.com team will be with the squad every step of the way in 2016-17, starting tonight at Prenton Park.
Stay tuned to our live match blog throughout the course of the night for details of all the action, and we'll have team news around 5.45pm for you to pour over.
Will the new boys start? You'll find out soon enough...