Report by Dave Usher at the Academy | |
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Liverpool's under18 side suffered yet another defeat, as top of the table Manchester City came away from the Academy with a comfortable 3-0 victory.
It wasn't quite as bad as the scoreline suggests, and the first half was a fairly even contest where the reds more than matched City.
John Owens was without Danny Smith and Phil Townley, whilst Conal Platt was on international duty with Ireland u19's.
U16 left back Robbie Threlfall started, whilst James Frayne was included up front.
City are always strong at youth level, and it's easy to see why this team currently tops the table. Firstly, they're very, very big. Almost all of the side are big and strong, and in centre forward Ishmael Miller they have a man mountain who can also run and has a decent touch. He's a handful, but was kept in check by the brilliant James Smith, who was an absolute collossus in defence.
Left winger Karl Bermingham looks a very good player, as does striker Ashley Grimes. Both centre halves looked very good as well, and Liverpool actually did very well in the first half to stay with them.
In fact, the reds can count themselves very unlucky not be ahead at the break, having twice hit the woodwork. Yet as has often been the case this season, they found themselves trailing despite having played pretty well.
Adam Hammill started the match on the right wing, and the tricky youngster almost put the reds in front after ten minutes when he cut inside and beat two players before curling a terrific shot which struck the top of the crossbar with Kasper Schmeichel well beaten.
City were looking dangerous every time they attacked however, and on fifteen minutes Paul Willis was forced into the first of several fine saves when a swift counter attack saw the ball worked to Miller in the box, but his shot was kept out by the reds keeper.
The reds then caught City with a counter attack of their own two minutes later, when Willis plucked a corner out of the air, and bowled the ball out to Noon on the right wing.
Noon advanced forward before splitting the defence with a great ball to Frayne, but the young striker's shot was just too high. A great break though.
City went in front on 24 minutes, but the reds have every right to feel aggrieved at the manner in which they fell behind.
Powerful right winger Michael Johnson was fouled by Threlfall, but stayed on his feet and an advantage was played. He got to the byline, but then badly overhit his cross. However, the referee then decided to bring the play back for the original foul.
As the ball was whipped in towards City's big men, Threlfall rose highest to meet it, but the ball skimmed off his head and past Willis for an unfortunate own goal.
Six minutes later City almost went two up when O'Donnell played a terrible pass from inside his own box, presenting the ball to Grimes on the edge of the area. Fortunately James Smith was there to make a fantastic block.
Smith's performance was Henchoz like, and I can't speak highly enough of how good the lad was today. Any time there was a block to be made, he was there throwing himself in front of the ball.
He competed well in the air against the giant Miller, and his covering and reading of the play was faultless.
Frayne was causing City some problems with his pace and control, and on 32 minutes he cleverly made space for himself on the edge of the box but just when he shaped to shoot a defender managed to get a deflection on it and diverted it away from Schmeichel juniors goal.
Liverpool were growing in confidence now though, and started to play some really good stuff. Hammill drifted over to the left wing, and created a great chance for Ryan Wilkie when he drifted away from two defenders before backheeling the ball into Wilkie's path.
The Scot advanced on goal but his shot from a tight angle was straight at Schmeichel who parried it away for a corner.
The reds continued to press, and two minutes before half time they put together the move of the half, when Guthrie headed the ball to Barratt and then collected a return pass. Noon made a clever run and was found by Guthrie, but Schmeichel rushed out and saved at the strikers feet.
Liverpool were really on top at this point, and some of their football was excellent. It looked as though they would be rewarded when Noon escaped the attention of his marker on the left of the area, and from his pinpoint cross Frayne nipped in ahead of his marker and sidefooted the ball goalwards. It seemed a certain goal, but the ball crashed against the crossbar and bounced clear.
Sadly the reds couldn't carry the momentum they'd built up into the second half. A Guthrie free kick which forced Schmeichel into a scrambling save was the best they could muster, and after that it was all City.
Willis saved well with his feet on three occasions, and also tipped the ball over the bar after a great strike by the influential Bermingham.
For all the keeper's heroics, and the resolute defending of Smith, City still managed to find the net twice more to give the scoreline a more convincing look.
It was Grimes who made it 2-0 on 70 minutes when he advanced in the inside right channel and finished superbly with a fine shot from a tight angle.
Bermingham capped a fine individual display with an excellent goal eleven minutes from time, and City were certainly worth the points, although three nil was harsh on the reds.
Smith was easily the star man, but there were other good performances too. Willis made some excellent stops, and Calum Woods' distribution from full back was very good.
Guthrie played pretty well in midfield, and Noon and Frayne were excellent in the first half before fading after the break.
It's been a wretched season so far for the u18's, but on the positive side of things, the u16 side are unbeaten and are from what I hear they are very, very good.
Apparently they're known at the Academy as the 'Dream Team' and there's every chance that some of them will be introduced to the u18 set up after Christmas.
Team: Paul Willis; Calum Woods, James Smith, Danny O'Donnell, Robbie Threlfall; Ryan Wilkie, Danny Guthrie, Paul Barratt, Adam Hamill (Jonathon Pringle); Karl Noon (Charlie Barnett), James Frayne:
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