Following appearances as substitute against both Thailand and Singapore, Torres made his first start of the pre-season against the Catalans, playing for 70 minutes before being replaced by fellow forward Ngog. The Spaniard led the line for Liverpool as the Reds slipped to a 3-0 loss against Espanyol in the inaugural game at the Spanish club’s new Cornellá-El Prat Stadium in Barcelona.

It was a festive occasion for the 40,000 Espanyol fans with the party starting at 16:30 hours. Saxaphone player Pep Poblet, a marching band, a group of acrobats, and 5000 blue and white balloons all added colour to the inaugural celebrations. After the final whistle there was also a fireworks display once the match had ended.

Steve Gerrard crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 18th minute with right-footed drive from outside the box. The captain came close to scoring the first goal in Espanyol’s new home.

Espanyol took the lead just one minute later courtesy of striker Luis Garcia. Nakamura picked out the striker in the box, and the number ‘10’ made no mistake, beating Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal with a left-footed shot.

Fernando Torres burst through the Espanyol defence on 25 minutes but the forward was brought down by the last-man. The referee blew for a foul, also showing Pareja a yellow card in the process. Gerrard struck the woodwork for a second time from the resulting free-kick as Liverpool came close to equalising.

The Anfield number ‘9’ was again the centre of the Red’s next attack. Torres played a clever one-two with Benayoun, but the Israeli failed to get a shot out with just Kameni ahead of him.

Tamudo had the ball in the back of the net five minutes before half-time, but luckily for the Merseysiders the linesman had raised his flag for offside.

The home side doubled their lead on 64 minutes. Ben Sahar collected a pass from Callejon before slotting the ball past Pepe Reina.

With 20 minutes remaining Rafa Benitez made several substitutions, including that of Fernando Torres who was replaced by team-mate David Ngog.

Espanyol made it 3-0 two minutes from time as Sahar grabbed his second of the evening, the Israeli beating Reina from close range.

Liverpool next face Norwegian side FC Lyn on Wednesday 5, before their last game of the pre-season at home to Fernando Torres’ boyhood club Atletico Madrid on Saturday 8. The clash against the rojiblancos will be the Merseysiders’ final test ahead of the Premier League kick-off on August 16 at White Hart Lane versus Tottenham.


- Match Stats: Espanyol 3-0 Liverpool

Espanyol: Kameni, Pillud, Jarque, Pareja, David Garcia (Didac, 71), Nakamura (Verdu, 49), Moisés (Lola, 71), Luis Garcia (Corominas 62'), De la Peña, Tamudo, Ivan Alonso (Sahar, 60')

Booked: Pareja,

Goals: Luis Garcia 19, Sahar 64, 88

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson (Degen, 46), Insua (Dossena, 46), San Jose, Carragher (Kelly, 83), Lucas Leiva (Plessis, 70) Mascherano (Spearing, 46) (Alosno, 84), Gerrard (Voronin, 70) Benayoun (Babel, 46), Kuyt (Riera, 70), Torres (Ngog, 70)

Booked: Leiva, Carragher, Mascherano