A machine for preparing liquid food products comprises at least: - a source of a liquid; - a delivery assembly, having a brewing chamber configured for receiving a precursor of a liquid food product and for delivering the food product following upon passage of the liquid through the brewing chamber; - a pump (4), for pumping the liquid from the supply source through the brewing chamber of the delivery assembly and thereby causing delivery of the liquid product; and - a control system, configured for controlling an electric motor (33) of the pump, which has a rotating shaft (33a). The pump (4) has a pump casing with an inlet and an outlet and a pumping arrangement that can be driven via the motor (33). The motor (33) is a bidirectional motor, and the control system comprises means for controlling reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor (33) between a primary direction and a secondary direction. The pump (4) has a priming system comprising a recirculation valve (60-63) and a corresponding actuation arrangement (44, 65, 68). The actuation arrangement (44, 65, 68) is pre- arranged for causing opening of the recirculation valve (60-63) following upon rotation of the motor (33) in the secondary direction.