Gerrard: It's great to be back
Steven Gerrard reflected on his first 45 minutes of football since undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year and declared: "I feel fantastic."
The skipper played the first half as Liverpool saw off an Indonesia XI 2-0, courtesy of finishes from Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling in Jakarta.
At the interval, Joe Allen took to the field to replace Gerrard - and after the game the 33-year-old insisted it felt great to be back.
"It's nice to play football again in front of our all our supporters," said the skipper.
"My shoulder felt fantastic, so it was nice to get the first 45 minutes under my belt and hopefully I'll get slightly more time in Australia.
"It's been feeling fine now for a few weeks in training, there have been absolutely no problems. The surgeon gave me the go-ahead to play tonight and the manager was sensible in giving me 45 minutes. I'm really happy with how I feel.
"It was a difficult game. There's no air out there to breathe and recover after long runs and the training has been very tough, so the legs are heavy. But we won the game and we got the fitness in.
"At the moment, it's all about the fitness and getting the physical condition back. The results are not really too important, but we're happy with the win and we move on to the next game. Hopefully we'll feel better physically."
New signings Simon Mignolet, Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas all started the match at the Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium.
In the first half, Alberto rattled the crossbar with a vicious strike, Aspas was dangerous throughout and Toure looked solid.
But Gerrard began his appraisals of the quartet by applauding Mignolet's comfortable display.
"I thought that all the new lads did well tonight," said Gerrard. "I thought [Mignolet] was fantastic with his feet and he did everything well.
"Toure looked assured at the back and as very vocal. People are talking about missing Jamie [Carragher] and Jamie's voice, but I thought Kolo led from the back tonight.
"The two Spanish lads, as I said earlier in the week, are wonderful technicians on the ball. Aspas works his socks off for the team and you can see Alberto's quality. That's what we bought him for - to play against sides where it's difficult and you need someone to unlock the door, like Coutinho and Alberto.
"They're the magicians who are going to unlock the defence. I'm really pleased with all the newcomers tonight."
The captain reserved his final words of praise for the incredible support the Reds enjoyed inside the stadium.
It was a night to remember, even for Gerrard - a man who has played in some of the most special atmospheres in world football.
"It was unique," he said. "It's difficult to put it into words when talking to people back home on the phone. But I think the game was live, so I think they saw it for themselves.
"There was close to 60,000 people in here tonight, which is mind-blowing. There are very few sides in the world - never mind Europe - who can match that support and we're very lucky to have that support."
You can watch full highlights of the game on LFC TV at midnight tonight.