Liverpool’s new forward Iago Aspas marked his debut with a goal yesterday but he will have to score plenty more if Reds fans are to celebrate a new hero to replace wantaway striker Luis Suarez.

The Spaniard, signed from Celta Vigo for £7.7million, curled home his side’s final effort as they eased their way back into action to comfortably win the specially-commissioned Shankly Shield, in honour of Reds’ iconic manager and former Lilywhites player Bill Shankly against Preston at Deepdale.

In reality the game had already been settled with goals from Philippe Coutinho, Jordon Ibe and Raheem Sterling in little more than a gentle run-out – even if temperatures on the pitch touched 30 degrees.

It provided no proper gauge for an assessment on the work manager Brendan Rodgers has done over the summer or his four new signings, who all featured.

Aside from one first-half save from Scott Laird’s shot, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had nothing to do, while centre-back Kolo Toure may have had a more testing afternoon had new Preston signing Kevin Davies been ready to play.

Rodgers’ two Spanish imports, Aspas and Luis Alberto, played the second half with Aspas’ 20-yard left-foot curler for Liverpool’s fourth in the 75th minute the highlight.