A first half goal from Yossi Benayoun was all that separated Tranmere and Liverpool as both teams opened up their pre-season campaigns in a friendly at Prenton Park.

There could have been more goals as both teams hit the woodwork - Rovers finding the post through Andy Taylor and Liverpool the cross bar through Jermaine Pennant - in an entertaining encounter. The Premier League side's passing and movement was impressive throughout, but Tranmere were not overwhelmed.

But as with all pre-season friendlies, it was a match about fitness not results, and Rovers boss Ronnie Moore will have been pleased with the performance of his side.

Ronnie Moore opted for a 4-3-3 formation with new signings George O'Callaghan and Gareth Edds lining up in midfield alongside Steve Jennings. Chris Shuker, Ian Moore and Chris Greenacre made up a three man attack, while triallist John Curtis, Andy Taylor, Ben Chorley and captain for the day Antony Kay make up the back four in front of keeper Danny Coyne. There are places on the bench for the rest of the squad, including another triallist, Luke Waterfall.

The visitors carved out a few chances in the opening minutes, with Damian Plessis shooting over and Jermaine Pennant seeing an effort deflect wide. But it was Tranmere who had the first shot on target, with Greenacre testing David Martin from 8 yards.

Yossi Benayoun and Danny Pacheco both went close as Liverpool dominated early possession but Coyne was untested for the first half hour.

There were one or two decent flashes from Curtis and O'Callaghan while Taylor was doing a good job up against Pennant.

A strike from Pennant which hit the bar was the closest either side had come to scoring until the 43rd minute when Benayoun brilliantly found the far corner of Coyne's goal from 20 yards out to give the visitors the lead.

It could easily have been 1-1 a few minutes later, though, as Taylor hit the post from 25 yards from a free kick just before half time.

Liverpool made a host of changes at half time, with seven new faces on the pitch for the second half. Rovers made three themselves soon after, with Craig Curran, Bas Savage and Eddy Sonko joining the action as the front three completely changed.

The second half had much more of a pre-season friendly appearance, with fewer shots on goal and Liverpool happy to pass the ball around the back.

The introduction of Savage gave Rovers the option of the long ball and the tall striker showed some decent touches. Sonko also looked comfortable in possession, while Adnan Ahmed, another substitute, looked to break forward whenever possible.

Sonko headed wide from a Curran cross on 73 minutes, shortly before Ian Goodison replaced Chorley in the centre of defence.

Craig Curran had a great chance to level for Rovers three minutes later, but he headed over from six yards out after running on to Taylor's well placed cross.

With just two minutes left Liverpool substitue Andriy Voronin should have wrapped up the win when he broke into the Rovers area, but he chose to pass rather than shoot and the opportunity came to nothing.

Tranmere: Coyne, Curtis, Kay, Chorley (Goodison 74), Taylor, Edds (Ahmed 66), Jennings, O'Callaghan (Henry 84), Shuker (Sonko 55), Greenacre (Curran 55), Moore (Savage 55). Substitutes not used: Achterberg, Gornell, Holmes, Cresswell, Waterfall.

Liverpool: Martin (Cavalieri 46), Darby (Hyypia 46), Hobbs (Flynn 46), Carragher (Aurelio 46), Agger (Kelly 77), Leiva (Skrtel 46), Plessis (Gerrard 66), Insua, Pennant (Degen 46), Pacheco (Voronin 66), Benayoun (Spearing 46).

Referee: Mike Dean