Liverpool under-21s have been served with extra classes towards senior opposition as their newest EFL Trophy marketing campaign bought underway with a 5-1 defeat at Crewe.
Crewe 5-1 Liverpool U21s
EFL Trophy Group Stage (1), Gresty Highway
August 27, 2024
Targets: Roberts 3′, Lengthy 30′, 43′, Cooney (pen) 51′, Thibaut 74′; Corness (pen) 10′
The EFL Trophy presents Liverpool with an opportunity to area their kids towards skilled senior professionals, with this the primary of three group video games.
Barry Lewtas‘ facet solely gained their first match within the competitors final season and made it to the knockouts for the primary time in 5 makes an attempt.
However they bought off to a poor begin towards League Two Crewe. Understandably so, because the Reds’ XI had a mean age of 18.9 years and remained with out these on the cusp of summer time transfers.
That included the likes of Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Stefan Bajcetic and Tyler Morton, amongst others.
Although 1-0 down after three minutes having did not clear a protracted throw into the field, the younger Reds didn’t enable their heads drop as they as an alternative took the sport to the hosts.
Maynor Figueroa got here near an equaliser simply moments earlier than Dominic Corness transformed from the penalty spot after Michael Laffey was bundled over chasing a again go. Reward for imposing themselves.
The Reds continued to point out promising impetus on the break, however irritating errors on the again put the sport all however past attain because the hosts transformed two quick-fire objectives past Harvey Davies, who hung out on mortgage at Crewe final season.
HT: Crewe 3-1 Liverpool U21s
Inside the first 11 minutes of the second half, each groups had given away penalties – Crewe transformed theirs first earlier than Corness’ second spot kick of the night was steered extensive of the upright.
It was to be one other eye-opening outing on this competitors for the membership’s kids, with a fifth scored late on, however Lewtas defined why they become involved regardless of the expertise of “sore nights.”
He mentioned previous to the match: “In case you are not profitable then you definately’ve bought to be studying and now we have definitely learnt loads from these video games – which is why we enter this competitors.”
Liverpool will meet League One’s Blackpool and League Two’s Harrogate City of their different two group video games.
Liverpool U21s: Davies; Miles, Pinnington, Nallo (Jonas 75′), Norris; Kelly, Laffey, Corness; Pilling, Figueroa (Kone-Doherty 75′), Hill
Subs not used: Trueman, Esdaille, Spearing, Onanuga,
Subsequent match: Sunderland (A) – Premier League 2 – Monday, September 2, 7pm (BST)
