Andriy Voronin had a second-half penalty saved but Liverpool maintained their
unbeaten record so far in pre-season with a draw against Hertha Berlin.
In front of 51,641 fans in Berlin's Olympic Stadium, Liverpool's starting
line-up included just three players who could consider themselves first choice
come the start of the season.
But they showed enough effort, fitness and strength - particularly at the back
- to encourage boss Rafael Benitez.
But this was very much the final dress rehearsal as far as Benitez was
concerned.
The Anfield chief has been denied his big-hitters so far this pre-season and
that has given the support cast their chance to shine.
He has discovered that in youngsters Stephen Darby, David Martin and Jay
Spearing there is plenty of potential for the future, and all three would
benefit from a spell now out on loan.
But Benitez will bring his squad back to Melwood tomorrow and has a week of
intense work before they fly to Spain for a friendly with Villarreal next
Wednesday, followed by a demanding trip to face Rangers at Ibrox four days
later.
Benitez will hope by then to have made headway on the possible deals involving
Gareth Barry and Robbie Keane while welcoming back to training Liverpool's
Spanish heroes Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Jose Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa - all
return to training at the end of the week.
By then decisions may well have been made over the futures of Jermaine Pennant,
Andriy Voronin and Sebastian Leto.
They have all had plenty of chances over four friendlies so far, but the pace
of preperation will hot up now with a Champions League qualifier three weeks
away.
Liverpool will face that without Javier Mascherano, who is bound for the
Olympics and played his last game for the club for a month in Berlin.
Along with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger he showed how strong this central
axis will be next term.
Elsewhere Spanish teenager Daniel Pacheco again showed clever flashes of talent
and almost got on the end of an Emiliano Insua cross.
Hertha came closest in the first period with two efforts from full-back Sofian
Chahed.
Liverpool changed their complete back-line at the break, Martin Skrtel, Sami
Hyypia, Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena taking over.
And the visitors should have scored after 49 minutes after Voronin was pulled
down in the box by Kaka, who was tugging his shirt, but the Ukrainian striker
saw his spot-kick saved by Christian Fiedler.
Cicero saw a downward header saved well by Diego Cavalieri, who was then
replaced by Martin, with Jack Hobbs, Dirk Kuyt, Spearing and Yossi Benayoun all
getting second-half run-outs.
