BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 22, 2017: Liverpool's Joel Matip in action against Ipswich Town during the FA Premier League Cup match at Prenton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Joel Matip and Alberto Moreno feature in comfortable win for Liverpool Under-23s

Joel Matip made his return to competitive football by playing an hour for Liverpool Under-23s on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds’ centre-back hasn’t featured for over a month, due to injury and FIFA’s incompetence, and therefore was selected for the U23s to help gain match fitness ahead of Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Southampton.

It meant that Matip partnered Joe Gomez in defence – a partnership that many may feel would be good to see in the first-team in the not so distant future after Saturday’s poor defensive display in defeat to Swansea City at Anfield.

Also featuring for Mick Garrity’s side against Ipswich Town on Sunday was left-back Alberto Moreno, as the Reds eased to a 3-0 victory in the Premier League Cup.

Goals were scored by Paulo Alves, who was a surprise substitute against Plymouth last week, Rhian Brewster, who was making his debut for the Under-23s after impressing at Under-18s level recently, and Ben Woodburn.

17-year-old Brewster was making his debut at this level due to regular forward Brooks Lennon not being involved ahead of his loan move to MLS side Real Salt Lake.

Kevin Stewart, Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo all played the full match – and will be hoping their next appearances arrive against Wolves in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield next Saturday.

Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold were not involved, instead training with the first-team at Melwood.

Liverpool: Grabara, Randall, Gomez, Matip (Williams), Moreno (Whelan), Stewart, Alves, Woodburn, Wilson, Ojo, Brewster (Virtue).

Unused subs: Kelleher, Masterson.

More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments