The manager will have learnt little from this agonisingly dull warm-up in which Yossi Benayoun's exquisite 44th-minute winner provided one of the few moments of enjoyment, although several of his aspiring youngsters further enhanced their reputations.

Damien Plessis, who enjoyed an outstanding first-team debut against Arsenal last term, should be the big winner of Olympic call-ups for Mascherano and Lucas Leiva.

The French midfielder may pose less of a goal threat than Carragher – as he demonstrated with a hopelessly tame shot in the opening minutes – but he again showed his prowess in the holding role.

But it was former Barcelona starlet Danny Pacheco who caught the eye most.

The slight Spanish striker is highly regarded at Anfield and, operating in the Fernando Torres role, he gave Liverpool's travelling support a taste of his precocious talent.

From the onset the 17-year-old tormented Tranmere's defence with his delightful touches and clever movement, even if he failed to impress referee Dean with a tumble under the slightest of contact shortly before the lively Benayoun fired over after exchanging passes with Leiva on the edge of the box.

He was certainly more convincing when linking brilliantly with Leiva on 18 minutes, before sending a curling effort just wide of the upright.

The young Spaniard, who was captured from the Nou Camp as Benitez exploited legislation in his homeland preventing under 18s from signing professional terms, again combined with the former Brazil player of the year two minutes later.

Striding out of defence, Agger picked out Pacheco’s run and, in turn, the Liverpool reserves star flicked on the pass to Leiva, whose shot was snuffed out by keeper Danny Coyne.

The keeper was then saved by his upright as Jermaine Pennant struck a fierce effort against the woodwork.

Pennant, who for a brief spell last season, threatened to solve Benitez’s wide problem, had prior to that moment played like a man who expects to depart Anfield.

The perennial England hopeful is likely to complete a deal with Paul Ince’s Blackburn this week and evidently saw the rough and tumble tackling of Moore’s men as a threat to his move.

His display improved as the half progressed but Pacheco again stole the limelight on 37 minutes, drawing a save from Coyne after racing onto Leiva’s brilliant lofted pass.

The keeper’s resistance was eventually broken a minute before the break when Jack Hobbs’ deflected shot eventually found its way out to Benayoun who stroked home a exquisite effort.

Benitez made seven changes at the interval, among those being a first glimpse for Liverpool fans of Diego Cavaleri and Degen.

There was also a run out for Gerrard, who was said to have been chomping at the bit to play.

And despite having only three days of training under his belt, the captain looked head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch, spraying balls to every corner of the pitch as he anchored midfield.

That’s one experiment we certainly won’t see when the season begins.