Darren Ferguson watched his Peterborough United side ease to a 4-1 victory over a youthful Liverpool XI at London Road in the first pre-season friendly of the campaign in this country. Sergio Torres (foot), Russell Martin (ankle) and Liam Hatch (food poisoning) all sat out as the rest of squad got a chance to shine against the Premier League Reserve League Champions from 2007-2008.

Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson named Paul Coutts in his starting line-up to give him a chance to impress and the midfielder forced goalkeeper Chris Oldfield into a fine save as he tipped over a fierce curling effort from the Scottish youngster.

Micah Hyde saw a driven shot blocked by Mackay-Steven as Posh continued to dominate the opening exchanges. At the other end Nathan Eccleston fired wide of the near post after reading a flick on from captain Ryan Flynn.

Boyd saw a shot blocked after a fine pass from Hyde picked out a superb run from Craig Mackail-Smith into the channel. Lewis was forced into his first save of the afternoon on 27 minutes and it was good reactions from the former Norwich shot-stopper, who stopped a close-range header from Lindfield after Posh had failed to deal with a corner kick from the left.

Oldfield produced a fine double save to deny first Coutts, whose strike was heading for the top corner, and then Mclean, whose close-range volley was well smothered by the young Reds goalkeeper.

The talented Flynn, who looked the stand-out player in the first half, saw a dipping shot drift past Lewis' far post as Liverpool found some room 25-yards from goal. The breakthrough came on the 40-minute mark and it was engineered by Alfie Potter down the right hand side whose quick thinking from a Hyde free-kick saw him pull the ball back to MCLEAN who swept the ball past Oldfield and into the roof of the net.

Lewis was then called upon to push away a low shot from Steven Irwin as the Reds tried to respond. The visitors were undone seconds into stoppage time though as Mclean returned the compliment for POTTER who took a touch and then slotted the ball past Oldfield with his left-foot.

Mackail-Smith saw his weak effort cleared off the line by Martin Kelly on 55 minutes before Posh made several substitutions with Kieran Charnock, Charlie Lee, Shane Blackett and Scott Rendell introduced. Lindfield saw a powerful 25-yard shot cannon off the crossbar moments later before Gerardo BRUNA fizzed a low effort into the bottom corner after his initial free-kick was blocked.

Charlie Lee should have done better from a Keates corner kick but his header flew over the crossbar. Potter had a good opportunity moments later to make it 3-1, but he took a heavy touch as he failed to convert a fine cross from Rendell.

Posh did make it 3-1 on 73 minutes as an in-swinging corner from Keates was headed home at the near post by midfield man LEE. Kelly then produced a fine last-ditch tackle to stop Mackail-Smith from firing home a fourth as the striker did well to beat the offside trap.

Lee then fired over from 25-yards as the game entered the final 10 minutes as the sunshine came out once again. An impressive burst from substitute Shane Blackett saw him ghost past two defenders and deliver a decent cross into the box which was converted from close-range by Scott RENDELL.

Final Score: Posh 4-1 Liverpool XI

Posh: Lewis (sub McKeown 46min), Morgan (sub Gourlay 88min), Westwood (sub Charnock 60min), Hyde (sub Keates 60min), Mclean (sub Rendell 60min), Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Whelpdale (sub Reed 88min), Williams (sub Blackett 60min), Potter, Coutts (sub Lee 60min).

Liverpool XI: Oldfield, Kelly, Mackay-Steven, Kelemen, Antwi, Irwin, Crowther, Flynn, Lindfield, Eccleston, Bruna. Subs: Huth, Duyan, Ode, Poloskei, Kacaniiklic, Brouwer.

Referee: Mr D Deadman (Cambridgeshire)
Attendance: 2,295