Thailand 1-3 Liverpool
A second half double from substitute Vladimir Smicer saw Liverpool to victory against Thailand in the first of their two games in the Far East
Despite playing difficult conditions following heavy rain shortly before the match, Liverpoool were able to dominate for much of the game though either side could have scored an early goal.
The first chance fell the way of the hosts, with Kirkland called into action in the opening minutes, saving a shot from Kiatisuk.
Liverpool began to take control of the game before long though, and the Reds' first chance came the way of Michael Owen, who curled a shot over the bar from just inside the corner of the 18 yard area.
Anthony Le Tallec forced a good save from the Thailand keeper after around 10 minutes of the match, when he hit a dipping 20 yard shot towards goal which was heading for the top corner before Kittisak tipped the ball onto the bar.
Thailand's best chance came following a mistake by Stephane Henchoz, with the Swiss defender losing the ball just outside the area, but Kirkland came quickly off his line and blocked the shot by the Thai forward.
Bruno Cheyrou went close on the half hour, striking a powerful left footed shot just a couple of feet away from the top corner of the goal, though Emile Heskey made no mistake a minute later when he used he power and pace to his advantage as he burst into the area beating off a Thailand defender, before slamming the ball into the gap between Kittisak and his near post.
Heskey narrowly missed out on scoring a second in the last five minutes of the half, but just failed to connect on a low cross whipped into the area by Le Tallec.
Liverpool weren't to go into the break leading the game though, as a Somiet Satarud levelled the scores in first half stoppage time, with a well taken shot which he lifted cooly over Chris Kirkland following a mistake by Traore.
Thailand put Liverpool under a great deal of pressure in the closing minutes of the half, with the referee playing nearly 10 minutes of first half stoppage time. A series of corners fell Thailand's way shortly after the goal, and Kirkland was forced into a brilliant one handed stop in the 8th minute of added on time from a close range volley by Pichitpong.
Patrice Luzi came on at half time for his first appearance of an description in the Liverpool first team, and he was joined by Babbel, Hyypia, Biscan, Riise, Smicer Gerrard, Murphy, Sinama-Pongolle, and a front two of Baros and Mellor who all lined up for the start of the second period.
Liverpool's lead was restored within a minute of the restart, with Vladimir Smicer netting Liverpool's second of the evening. The move started on the right with Babbel and he linked up with Baros, who got himself into the area before laying the ball off to Smicer, and the Czech midfielder struck a first time shot which squirmed past the Thai 'keeper.
And the Reds should have been awarded a penalty and the chance to extend their advantage further after a quarter of an hour of the half, when Neil Mellor was brought down in the area, but Thailand were grateful for a raised flag which ruled that Mellor had been offside, though replays proved that the youngster was a full five yards onside when the ball was played.
Few things were going the way of Mellor, who had a shot cleared off the line, and saw a goal ruled out for offside after around 20 minutes of the second half, and last season's reserve league top scorer was brought off a minute later and replaced by 19 year-old Zak Whitbred.
A minute after the change, Liverpool extended their lead to 3-1, thanks to a second on the night by Vladimir Smicer, who volleyed a left footed shot into the back of the net from close range to complete the scoring.
Thailand themselves had a goal disallowed before the finish, but Liverpool held on to record an identical scoreline to that of two years ago when the teams last met.
Liverpool's next match is against Hong Kong and takes place at 8am British time on Sunday morning.
