Chelsea start with a win but Liverpool suffer in Denmark
Published:Pre-season training is well underway for football clubs up and down the country with many sides getting their first taste of action this week.
Last night two contenders for the Premier League title were in action and suffered differing fortunes as they prepare for the new Premier League season, albeit without their World Cup stars.
Wycombe 0-5 Chelsea
A Chelsea side featuring plenty of promising youngsters and a smattering of first-team stars put Wycombe to the sword at Adams Park.
A double from Izzy Brown and a strike from Patrick Bamford sandwiched John Terry and Branslav Ivanovic goals as the Blues went on to win 5-0.
Kurt Zouma made his Chelsea debut with an appearance off the bench while Nemanja Matic also made his first appearance of the season.
Jose Mourinho’s side, who are 15/8 for the title, continue their preparations for the new season with a trip to AFC Wimbledon next.
Watch the highlights from Adams Park now:
Brondby 2-1 Liverpool
On the day Luis Suarez officially became a Barcelona player an experimental Liverpool side were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat to Brondby.
None of Brendan Rodgers’ four new signings featured nor did the members of his squad that played at the World Cup in Brazil but Daniel Agger, playing against his former club for the first time, Philippe Coutinho, Fabio Borini, Martin Skrtel and Lucas Leiva all got a run out against the Danes.
Midfielder Christian Norgaard opened the scoring for the home side before youngster Kristoffer Peterson equalised for the Reds.
But it was Brondby who finished the stronger of the two sides with Ferhan Hasani capitalising on some poor Liverpool defending to give his side the win.
Liverpool, who are 9/1 with Ladbrokes to win the Premier League, will not be overly concerned about defeat but they will be keen to get back to winning ways when they play Preston at Deepdale on Saturday.
Watch Liverpool in action at Brondy Stadion now:
Villa’s turn to get pre-season underway at One Call Stadium
Tonight sees Aston Villa kick-off get their pre-season campaign against League Two Mansfield Town.
New assistant manager Roy Keane will be in the dugout alongside manager Paul Lambert for the first time with new signings Keiran Richardson and Joe Cole set to make their debuts.
Another Villa new boy Philippe Senderos is not expected to feature after playing for Switzerland at the World Cup but the Villans should still have enough in the locker to pick up a first ever win over Mansfield.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
