Match reportLiverpool beat Sunderland in Andoni Iraola's first game in charge

In the first pre-season friendly of the summer, Kieran Morrison opened the scoring at GEODIS Park on 12 minutes by converting neatly with a well-placed shot across goal.

Enzo Le Fee levelled for the Black Cats with a long-range effort soon after, and Timur Tutierov put them in front minutes past half-time.

However, the Reds were dominant throughout the second period and Dominik Szoboszlai made it 2-2 with 56 minutes gone when he collected a ricochet just outside the area and crisply struck the bouncing ball into the near post.

Federico Chiesa swept Liverpool in front with an angled finish from the corner of the six-yard box, then Lewis Koumas put the result beyond doubt with an effort inside the area.

Iraola’s first starting line-up contained a mix of youth and experience, with Joe Gomez wearing the captain’s armband.

But the centre-back’s involvement came to a premature end when he was forced from the field with a knock inside the opening 10 minutes.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe replaced Gomez, with Kostas Tsimikas taking over the captaincy.

Nevertheless, Liverpool took the lead on 12. A break forward resulted in Harvey Elliott sliding a pass to Morrison on the right of the area. The forward stepped inside before slipping a low, left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Sunderland drew level when Le Fee collected possession just inside the Reds’ half, powered towards the edge of the box and beat Giorgi Mamardashvili with a well-hit drive on 28 minutes played.

They went close to going ahead but Mamardashvili parried from Romaine Mundle before James McConnell threw himself in front of Chris Rigg’s follow-up.

As the half drew to a conclusion, it was Sunderland who threatened again, but the teams returned to their dressing rooms with the scoreline locked at 1-1.

Iraola opted to make five further changes during the break – but it was the Black Cats who went in front four minutes after the restart.

Tutierov collected a nudge into the box from Tom Proctor and hooked an effort beyond Mamardashvili from close range.

Liverpool could have restored parity quickly, but Milos Kerkez couldn’t quite manage to divert Jeremie Frimpong’s delivery in from six yards out with his head.

However, a sublime Szoboszlai half-volley grabbed an equaliser for the Reds as he controlled a loose ball on his chest outside the box and found the inside of the near post.

Then, Calum Scanlon was a fraction away from making it 3-2 but he couldn’t direct Morrison’s low ball across goal into the net at the back post while on the stretch.

By now, Iraola’s charges were in the ascendancy and Sunderland required a sprawling stop from Melker Ellborg to thwart Koumas’ attempt to dink an effort over him.

But the Sunderland ’keeper could do little to prevent Chiesa restoring Liverpool’s lead. The No.14 was picked out by a pass into space from Calvin Ramsay and he found the net with an unerring finish from the corner of the six-yard box.

Koumas wrapped up the scoring and sealed the outcome with four minutes remaining when he collected a Szoboszlai pass, stepped inside Leo Hjelde and converted with aplomb from 10 yards.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili (Woodman, 67), Gomez (Ndukwe, 8), Jones (Nyoni, 46), Elliott (Szoboszlai, 46), Tsimikas (Kerkez, 46), Frimpong (Ramsay, 67), McConnell (Scanlon, 56), Morrison (Abe, 67), Ngumoha (Koumas, 46), N’Diaye (Chambers, 67), Wright (Chiesa, 46).

Unused subs: Davies, Sonni-Lambie.

Attendance: 24,897