Rabotnicki Skopje 0 Liverpool 2
A young Liverpool eased to victory in Macedonia after a brace from striker David Ngog.
Despite their inexperience, the Reds beat Rabotnicki 2-0 in their Europa League third qualifying round first leg match, new manager Roy Hodgson’s first competitive game in charge.
Hodgson left out 10 first team players who featured in the World Cup, including captain Steven Gerrard but the stand-ins did a professional job.
Ngog opened the scoring after 17 minutes, dinking the ball over the goalkeeper after a defensive error and volleyed in a second on 59.
The Europa League represents Liverpool’s only chance of European glory this season and fielding so many youngsters was a risky strategy.
However, the makeshift Reds team proved to be more than a match for their limited opponents who finished runners up in their division last season.
Liverpool scored with their only real chance of the first half. Brazilian midfielder Lucas, captain for this match, chipped a free kick towatds the edge of the box for Ngog to chase.
The French striker could not believe his luck when keeper Martin Bogatinov and defender Egzon Belica both missed the ball and he was allowed to lift calmly over the keeper.
Liverpool were firmly in control in the second half and the impressive Ngog, who managed just eight goals in 37 appearances last season, staked his claim for a regular slot with a second goal just before the hour mark.
The France under-21 international volleyed a Martin Kelly cross from the right into the top corner from the edge of the six yard box.
The majority of the second half was used as a training exercise by Hodgson, who sent on youngsters Stephen Darby, Lauri Dallaa Valle and Nathan Eccleston.
