Liverpool stepped up their preparations for start of the new Premier League season next week by playing two 60-minute friendlies against Italian side Bologna in France.
Under the sunshine of the city of Evian, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp named two separate line-ups for the pre-season tests, including a near-full strength squad for the first game.
The opening hour-long match saw Liverpool race into a two-goal lead early on thanks to a couple of gifts from Bologna defenders.
Liverpool continued their pre-season campaign two 60-minute friendlies against Bologna
Jurgen Klopp and his staff watched on as the team secured two victories in the games
Italian defender Kevin Bonifazi played a villainous role in the Reds opener by giving the ball straight to Diogo Jota, who simply ran towards goal and put it past the Bologna goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Mattias Svanberg played a loose ball across his own goal which allowed Sadio Mane to round the goalkeeper and tap home.
In an opening game which the Reds controlled from start to finish, Mo Salah thwacked the crossbar as the Reds threatened to extend their lead in the second half.
The second game, Takumi Minamino slotted home a wonderfully casual finish with the Reds dominating proceedings again.
Divock Origi had the chance to extend the lead with a penalty after Gary Medel hacked down Ben Woodburn but the Belgian struck the post with his spot kick.
Sportsmail analyses a few things we learned from the two outings in France on Thursday afternoon...
Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane got on the scoresheet in the first game based in Evian, France
GAME ONE: VAN DIJK IMPROVING ON FIRST START
The big team news for the first line-up of the afternoon was a first start for Virgil van Dijk since he ruptured his knee ligaments in the Merseyside Derby last October.
Unlike against Hertha Berlin in their last friendly, when he was turned inside outside for one of the four goals Liverpool conceded, the Dutchman was relatively untroubled against a poor Bologna XI - but did show signs in the France friendly that he is getting back up to speed.
Virgil van Dijk started his first match since his major knee injury and looked assured in defence
In the first-half, he quelled a promising Bologna attack by casually shrugging Emanuele Vignato out the way, showing that he has his physicality back after such a long period off.
The centre-back also read the game well to stop another attack by cutting out Federico Santander's low cross into the six-yard box.
He may have only got a 43-minute run-out, but with ten days to go until the start of the Reds' season, Van Dijk doing his usual business can only be a promising sight for Liverpool fans.
The Dutchman was relatively untested before he was taken off after nearly 45 minutes of play
GAME ONE: ROBERTSON LEADS THE PRESS FROM DEEP
Liverpool's two goals in the first game may have been gifts from their opponents, but it does go to show how effectively the Reds press against opposition who may not be comfortable with playing out from the back.
And while the Reds' front three should be praised for the way they went all-out at Bologna in their own third, the person driving their press was an individual further back in Andy Robertson.
The Scottish left-back was shouting instructions towards
