6. Jordan Henderson.
It says an awful lot about Henderson that after only three days back, he was prepared to play the final quarter of an hour against AS Roma. Though it may only be pre-season, the midfield engine has already reminded us of how integral he is to the Liverpool side. Since, he has completed the full 90 minutes both times against Olympiacos and Manchester City. But, contrary to belief, Henderson is worth much more than limitless effervescence. He has flourished in possession over the last couple of months and became a real leading figure in the side, rushing over to help Adam Phillips after the youngster's rash tackle versus Roma. Defensively and offensively, he has been superb. It was his surging late run into the box that made up for Daniel Sturridge's slip, as he curled a wonderful first-time effort into the far corner and he topped off his performance with his calm, cool, collected penalty in the shoot-out. He was rightly rewarded man of the match, and almost grabbed himself an assist earlier in the game when his cute cross found Rickie Lambert at the far post, but the striker's header was tame. Overall, aside from his goal, he pulled the strings in the midfield with a variety of passes and endless driving runs After a terrific 2013-14 season in which he proved himself a key cog in the Liverpool machine, he will now look to build upon that and if his determination and commitment is anything to go by, you can sure bet he will. Brendan Rodgers has set him the target of including more goals to his game, to add to his unselfish efforts and after his sublime effort against City, he looks up for the challenge.
5. Emre Can
As if he hadn't announced himself already, the nature in which Emre Can threw Micah Richards to the ground with ease moments after coming on, definitely did. Despite such a short cameo, the colossal £10 million midfielder exquisitely set up Raheem Sterling's offside finish and slammed home a penalty in the shoot-out, confirming that the German has took no time whatsoever to settle into his new surroundings. At just 20-years-old, his powerful presence and commanding leadership has rejuvenated the midfield. Can’s introduction injected drive and dynamism into the Reds' midfield, and consequently saw them enjoy their best period of play. Similarly to Jordan Henderson, he possesses a fair few box-to-box traits. He's good on the ball, is eager to press, can intercept and tackle like a natural defensive midfielder but can drive forward at defences with force. He looks an inspired signing and if his recent games are anything to go by, will be exactly what Liverpool need in the centre of the park next season. Versatility, work ethic and sky-high potential, Can has already announced himself to the Anfield faithful in style.
4. Jordon Ibe
At just 18-years-old, pre-season has reaffirmed that Ibe is the next star off of the production line at Liverpool. He caught the eye versus Brøndby when just three minutes after coming onto the pitch, his clever turn and powerful run before squaring for Kristoffer Peterson to score equalised the scores. Against Preston too, he was instrumental. Setting up Suso after a driving run into opposition territory before virtually repeating his assist in Denmark, bursting down the flank before cutting back for Peterson to side-foot home. He's a refreshingly direct player, and not to mention the fact he's English. The £500,000 fee that Liverpool paid a few years ago already looks a bargain, and he could be a really important player in the coming seasons. At such a tender age, he has a lot yet to learn, but he's got a lot of the tools necessary to make it. Pace, strength, vision, intelligence and directness make him a real handful, and he's shown that throughout pre-season with three assists so far. He looks a real prospect, and may even have convinced Brendan Rodgers to use him in the senior squad rather than loan him out again. If he can improve his shooting and his final product, then Ibe could be a gem in no time.
3. Sebastian Coates
Perhaps the most surprising performer, Coates has defied expectations with a string of solid performances so far. Aside from his wonder goal against Queens Park Rangers, Coates' Anfield career has been largely disappointing and his 2013-14 season was stricken by a serious knee injury. After returning to his home country to recover, many thought this summer would be his last on Merseyside, but his recent form suggests it could be otherwise. Whilst it would be premature to suggest he's living up to his highly-regarded reputation that surrounded him before switching to Liverpool, he's certainly showing some promising glimpses. Despite lacking pace, Coates' positioning and vision of the game has shown to make up for his poor mobility and he's been error-costless at the back, a rare tonic for the Reds after their individual error-littered campaign last year. At just 22-years-of-age, the Uruguayan may be worth persevering with. After all, his Liverpool career has largely been performances off the bench or games in which he has been used to deputise for injured first-teamers and yet his talent is still quite clearly there. He was the best defender against Manchester City, in which a vivid Sky Blues' forward-line posed all sorts of problems, and yet Coates remained composed and he has shown huge improvement. Whether that's due to the slowed tempo of pre-season or a determination to prove himself, no-one knows, but he's certainly making a case to be in Brendan Rodgers' plans next year.
2. Raheem Sterling
Less surprisingly, Sterling has shone in his short time back with the Reds. The 19-year-old immediately lightened up the slow-burning encounter against Manchester City even though he only featured for the last 45 minutes, and was also the match winner in the previous International Champions Cup game. After a magnificent second season last year, in which he was a monumental part of the side that pushed for the title and an impressive cameo at his first World Cup, Sterling continued his stellar form into the game against the Greek champions. Raheem opened the scores early with an intelligent, albeit fortunate, bit of improvisation to get onto the end of Sturridge’s deflected effort. Throughout the game, he was energetic outlet on the flank and didn't give experienced Eric Abidal a minute's rest. He continued as he left off against the Premier League champions. He created the first equaliser, superbly scored the second and almost clinched an out-of-this-world late winner - but he was ruled offside. For the first goal, it was his incisive through ball that found Sturridge, who lost control before Henderson curled home. For the second of the game, it was Sterling himself on the scoresheet as he magnificently controlled a Lucas volley, strolled into the box and finished past Hart. Then, with composure beyond his peers, he ran onto the path of a tremendous through ball from Emre Can into the box and curled a first-touch finessed finish with tremendous power straight into the top corner, but it was not to count. Nevertheless, off the basis of these showings, the youngster looks set only to improve and after a scintillating season last year, Sterling could quite easily be the club's best player in the upcoming campaign.
1. Philippe Coutinho
Hailed as 'the brain' of the side, the brightest spark of the last few warm-up games has inevitably been the diminutive Brazilian. Coutinho was by far and away the best player on the pitch against Brøndby and AS Roma, and was vibrant against Preston, Olympiacos and Man City too. Despite Luis Suárez' creative genius having now been offloaded, Coutinho looks more than capable of filling that void. Graceful and elegant in possession, with the ability to dribble through a number of opposition without once losing control of the ball, Coutinho is a dazzling player to look. So much so, he is known for his trademark through balls, and there's been plenty of them throughout pre-season. The playmaker has just looked sharper than any of his teammates, perhaps because being left of out of his country's World Cup squad has buoyed him. He's looked threatening, but it has to be said that his shooting certainly needs some refinement. Even in the few pre-season games, he's dragged a few trademark well wide of the target. It's not fresh news to Liverpool fans, and though he's reported to have earmarked shooting as a weakness, he's shown little in the way of improving that as of yet. Still, if he can hit goals similar to his superb strikes against Tottenham and Manchester City at Anfield last season, then there'll be very few fans complaining. Overall, he's been the stand-out performer throughout the pre-season, having featured heavily. He looks ready to make a huge statement this season.