TIA Reserve Team and Academy Match Reporter Michael Sweeting bring’s us the latest news from Carrington where the Liverpool U18’s recorded a thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester United’s U18’s on Friday afternoon ..
Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool
Michael Sweeting: Liverpool left it very, very late as they managed to defeat Manchester United 2-1 at Carrington on Friday afternoon. Mike Marsh made three changes to the side that beat Manchester City 3-1 with Dave Moli, Josh Sumner and Tom King dropping out, replaced by Adam Morgan, Marc Pelosi and Brad Smith.
In a repeat of what happened against Sunderland for the reserves it was Liverpool who took the lead within one minute of kickoff as Adam Morgan put pressure on the United defender which led to the ball breaking for midfielder Jack Dunn who took two touches before firing a great shot across former Liverpool goalkeeper Liam Jacob and into the far corner.
Minutes later Liverpool should have doubled the lead as American Marc Pelosi, starting on the left side of midfield, got into a great position but shot straight at Jacob when he should have scored.
However, against the run of play Manchester United got back into the game as a flowing move down the left hand side ended up with a cross into the Liverpool box being finished off by Sam Byrne for the United equalizer.
After the great start the game began to degenerate into a midfield battle with choppy football and neither side able to keep the ball for prolonged periods of play, however there was still a few good chances, Adam Morgan guilty of wasting the best of them by managing to shoot at the man on the line when he was presented with an open goal.
After the break the game continued in the same vein, Liverpool creating chances… Morgan wasting them. He was presented with two great opportunities and fired wide both times. The influential Jack Dunn, the impressive Marc Pelosi, and the less than impressive Kristoffer Peterson also saw easy chances saved by Liam Jacob who was kept busy all day.
With time running out Marc Pelosi broke for Liverpool and picked out Nathan Quirk who bent a lovely weighted pass into Jack Dunn’s path who passed the ball into the corner of the net.
Man of the Match: Jack Dunn – Honorable mention to Marc Pelosi but Dunn’s passing and movement was influential to the Liverpool win. Not to mention his two goals.
Liverpool Team: Tyrell Belford, Ryan McLaughlin (Lewis Hatch 56), Brad Smith, Joe Rafferty, Matty Regan, Peter Aylmer, Kristoffer Peterson, Jack Dunn, Adam Morgan, Marc Pelosi, Jordan Lussey (Nathan Quirk 80).
Unused subs: Conor Wearing, Michael Wilson, David Moli.
Michael Sweeting’s Live minute by minute Commentary
1min: [GOAL] McLaughlin with clever play wins a throw in, Morgan flicks it on and Jack Dunn runs beyond the Man Utd defence and scores. 1-0 Liverpool.
3min: Regan has been called into action twice already as McLaughlin has sloppily given the ball away. Corner cleared.
4min: Morgan nearly gets beyond Blackett to go 1v1 but Blackett just about cleared. Dunn pull back to Pelosi who shoots straight at Liam Jacob, Peterson can’t follow it up. Should be 2-0.
8min: United having a period of possession but fail to get a shot off at goal. Liverpool nearly break but ball doesn’t drop right. Liverpool a real threat early on.
11min: [GOAL] Flowing team move by United and Sam Byrne scores. Against the run of play. 1-1.
More of a midfield battle at the minute. Man Utd are playing poorly right now, Liverpool need to take advantage.
15min: Peterson rolls in Ryan McLaughlin who made a good run, miscontrolled it and runs out for goal kick. McLaughlin struggling so far.
19min: Dunn free kick, tries to trick Jacob by going near post. Goalkeeper only just reads it and pushes it behind. Referee amazingly awards a goal kick.
24min: McLaughlin makes good tackle on Vanvelzen who accidently stamps on McLaughlin’s leg. Game comes to stop while he receives treatment.
27min: Belford comes for corner, runs into Regan and drops ball. Gets away with it.
29min: Jack Dunn steals ball on 18 yard box, squared to Morgan who got it stuck under his feet and hits the man on the line. Again, should have scored.
35min: Regan stepped into midfield, Agger-like in stride… then gave the ball away.
36min: Marc Pelosi with a great effort from 25 yards. Good save, corner. Cleared.
37min: McLaughlin and Peterson build up well, Dunn with good movement feeds Pelosi then Morgan who sees it round post for corner.
41min: Smith gets a bit lucky but manages to get right down the line, flashes cross across goal and Morgan heads wide.
43min: Blackett concedes free kick 30 yards out. Dunn shoots wide.
45min: Pelosi comes in field with the ball and shoots right footed, forced wide for a corner. Peterson heads over.
HALF TIME
46min: Pelosi battles well after work by Dunn, crosses in and Morgan fires it straight into defender. He is starting to get annoyed with himself.
48min: Pelosi receives ball from Lussey and tricks his way past defender. Shoots right footed, out for corner. Corner cleared.
49min: Morgan tries to cross to Pelosi at back post but too close to Liam Jacob.
Notable that the Liverpool players are significantly bigger in terms of muscle stature than their United counter parts
54min: Shot from 35 yards from United. Easy save for Belford.
55min: McLaughlin has gone down again, looks like that knock he took earlier is still troubling him…SUBSTITUTION: Hatch ON, McLaughlin OFF
58min: Peterson pulls back to Lussey, shot blocked
59min: Starley turns on edge of box and fires just wide. Byrne goes through on goal, great tackle by Joe Rafferty.
61min: Ball crossed in by United, open goal is missed by the winger.
62min: Quick counter attack by Liverpool, Pelosi to Smith who blasts away and squares for Adam Morgan. Morgan should have done much better, puts it wide.
64min: Referee gives a really soft free kick right on the edge of the box against Rafferty. Free kick is put wide and referee had given a free kick back to Liverpool for some pushing.
66min: Belford gets really lucky as he slips trying to control the ball but manages to take it round the United striker.
70min: Cross deflected off Regan, Belford saves, another shot, Belford saves again. Morgan breaks, too far for Dunn. Pelosi shot saved.
71min: Pelosi cross, Peterson straight at Jacob. Should have scored. AGAIN!
75min: Morgan to Pelosi, Pelosi with a great ball to Dunn who had loads of time but puts it right into Jacob’s chest. Poor effort. Guess what? WE SHOULD HAVE SCORED!
77min: 30 yard free kick for United. Wind helped it on its way Belford spilled it and recovered. Corner.
78min: Corner right across the face of goal, United should have scored.
79min: SUBSTITUTION: Quirk ON, Lussey OFF
Morgan is being barracked by Mike Marsh, has played really badly today. Hold up play has to be much better.
82min: Rudge shoots for United, block by Regan, corner. Cleared by Pelosi.
83min: Dunn free kick, met by Pelosi but can’t direct goal wards.
84min: Lovely one touch play by United but great last ditch challenge by Rafferty.
86min: Dunn beats defender in the air, pushes ball inside and fired wide.
88min: Matt Starley bends the ball over the bar for United, good effort.
91min: [GOAL] Great pass by Pelosi puts Quirk in down the left, he plays a lovely pass to Dunn who finally gets Liverpool’s second goal. 2-1.
FULL TIME – MOTM Jack Dunn
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