Liverpool maintained their unbeaten pre-season run with a 2-0 win against HJK Helsinki thanks to two late goals inside four minutes at the Olympic Stadium in Finland's capital.

Brendan Rodgers' side, who had fielded a near full-strength starting eleven, struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities for much of the game - as Danny Ings came closest for the visitors.

But Divock Origi's near-post strike handed them the advantage in the 73rd minute after the lively Jordon Ibe's cross was flicked into his path by James Milner.

Liverpool's lead was doubled only four minutes later, as Philippe Coutinho marked his return with a fine curling strike from inside the box to put the game well beyond doubt and give the Reds a fourth win from five just eight days' prior to their opening Premier League clash.

Slow start in Helsinki

Liverpool fielded a strong side, having flown a 16-man squad full of first-team regulars to Finland. 

Philippe Coutinho made his return to Rodgers' side, featuring alongside Adam Lallana and Ibe in a front-three behind lone striker Ings.

Yet whilst HJK fielded a weakened side due to their involvement in the UEFA Champions League in mid-week, the Reds were on the back foot for the opening 15 minutes or so.

Ousman Jallow had a fine opportunity to hand the Finns the lead after just five minutes, but after Simon Mignolet was caught off his line from a corner, the striker wasted a free header - flashing it over the crossbar.

That set the tone for the rest of the first-half, which proved to be a rather quiet first 45 minutes with only a few half-chances.

Reds dominate the ball but struggle for clear chances

Coutinho had Liverpool's first promising effort after finding space at the near post, but his effort sailed over veteran goalkeeper Daniel Örlund's bar.

The Reds began to liven up going forward, creating a number of opportunities - none of which were particularly clear-cut, as Ings dropped low to meet the poor delivery of Jordan Henderson's free-kick, but could only glance a header across the face of goal.

James Milner had another effort, shooting from distance - but it was a comfortable save for Örlund - who was relatively untroubled throughout his first-half cameo.

The Reds were restricted to ambitious shots from range and intricate set-pieces, none of which came off for Rodgers' charges - as centre-back Gideon Baah threw himself in front of everything, including Coutinho's shot - which dropped just a yard over the bar.

Goalless at the break

There were wholesale changes for HJK at half-time as Mika Lehkosuo looked to spruce things up a bit, but it was their opponents who were in full control.

In fact, they almost scored the first goal of the game merely seven seconds into the second 45 - as Milner's sweet strike from 25-yards flew just wide of the post.

Liverpool assistant manager Sean O'Driscoll was screaming from the sidelines for his side to quicken things up and it was Ibe who things ran through for the majority of the game.

The lively teenage winger caused all kind of headaches for HJK's defence - though his low crosses from the right-side, most of which came from good build-up with right-back Nathaniel Clyne, weren't capitalised upon.

Reds' captain Henderson saw an audacious shot from range whistle just over the crossbar, before Ings' header from Clyne's accurate cross fell wide of the mark as they continued to struggle to find the breakthrough.

Substitutions force the first goal

Just minutes later, Ings was replaced by Origi, and the substitution took less than 10 minutes to take effect.

But not before Lallana came close to finding the back of the net, after Origi flicked the ball into his path at the edge of the box - but his shot was deflected, which took it over the bar.

Liverpool finally scored the first goal of the game with little over quarter of an hour to go, as they worked the ball out to Ibe on the right flank. He found Milner at the near-post, who showed good awareness to flick the ball into Origi. At the near post, the Belgian managed to get onto his right foot and fired high past substitute goalkeeper Saku-Pekka Sahlgren. 

And having found the net once, they soon scored again - as Coutinho guided a right-footed effort into the far top corner from inside the box, to put the result beyond all doubt.