Brisbane Roar 1-2 Liverpool: Milner grabs first Reds goal in friendly win

James Milner scored his first Liverpool goal as Brendan Rodgers’ side overcame an early scare to beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 on Friday. Liverpool were comfortable in sweeping aside a Thailand All-Stars XI on Tuesday, but faced much stiffer opposition at the Suncorp Stadium. The A-League outfit hit the front shortly after 17 minutes through Dimitri Petratos, but the visitors levelled 11 minutes later when Adam Lallana - who also netted against the Thailand XI - showed good footwork in the box before curling a right-footed effort into the far corner. Liverpool continued to create chances thereafter and their pressure eventually told 15 minutes from time when Milner's effort looped over goalkeeper Jamie Young and into the net. Rodgers selected a front two of Danny Ings and Divock Origi to start the game, but, amid reports the club has tabled a £32.5 million bid for Aston Villa's Christian Benteke, neither man was able to make much of an impact. Instead it was left to Ings' fellow close-season signing Milner to provide the telling touch, as Liverpool made it two wins from two in their build-up to the new Premier League campaign. After a low-key opening to proceedings, the home side took the lead with a well-taken goal.