AS a town with one of the lowest tax rates in Switzerland, Zug is home to more than its fair share of millionaires.

But the big names were mostly elsewhere for Liverpool as Roy Hodgson's experimental line-up earned a creditable draw against Grasshopper in the manager's first game in charge last night.

With new boy Joe Cole an interested observer and most of his senior players either back at Melwood or yet to return following World Cup exertions, Hodgson readily admitted this was not a fixture of great value in reference to the Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 15.

Instead, after being denied a first glimpse by Saturday's washout in Altach, it was a chance for the manager to run the rule over a clutch of youngsters and players who often found themselves too often on the fringes last season.

And Hodgson will have been quietly impressed as the youthful line-up held their own on a sultry evening against a Grasshopper side that have already started their domestic campaign.

After all, the manager may yet have to call upon some of those fledgling talents when Liverpool – here wearing their snazzy new black and gold third kit – begin their Europa League campaign next Thursday.

“The boys did very well,” says Hodgson. “This is a group of boys, many of whom have never kicked a ball for the first team or even been around the first team.

“So, to take on a team like Grasshoppers, who are towards the top of the Swiss league and who've been able to use their full squad, and get a 0-0 is a remarkable achievement with some players who've never kicked a ball outside of the Academy.

“We had some chances and were good value for the draw.

“We didn't get it through luck, we got it through hard work and determination. They've done the club proud.”