Liverpool Under-23s were held to 0-0 draw by Blackburn on Saturday, failing to take their chances with no recognised striker playing.
Liverpool U23s 0-0 Blackburn U23s
Premier League 2, Kirkby
October 26, 2019
With Rhian Brewster in the first-team squad to face Tottenham on Sunday, and Paul Glatzel still sidelined due to long-term injury, Neil Critchley‘s side had midfielder Isaac Christie-Davies up front.
Christie-Davies, returning from injury himself, was flanked by Curtis Jones and Luis Longstaff.
The Reds were unable to create many chances on a rain-soaked pitch at the Kirkby Academy and lacked any sort of cutting edge in the final third.
Jones was replaced on the hour, no doubt with Wednesday’s League Cup tie against Arsenal in mind. The Under-23s’ captain is expected to start that match on the left of the attack as he did vs. MK Dons in the third round.
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher played the full 90 minutes and made some decent saves, but the Irishman will play in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, with Adrian in goal for the first-team on Wednesday.
Liam Coyle also made his return from injury, replacing Christie-Davies for the final 15 minutes – the midfielder should now be heavily involved for the under-23s this season.
Speaking after the match, Critchley assessed: “A draw is probably a fair result. Defensively we were much better than last week against Wolves.
“Today we just lacked that little bit of guile and intelligence in the final third.”
It was Liverpool Under-23s’ fourth draw of the season from their opening nine games and again showed how the Premier League 2 is not a competition that is rated by the club, with the majority of their key players at this age out on loan.
Liverpool are 9th in PL2, while Man City are bottom in 12th – again showing how little it matters to the best club’s with top academy players.
Liverpool Under-23s: Kelleher, Gallacher, Clayton, Boyes, Larouci, Chirivella, Dixon-Bonner, Christie-Davies (Coyle, 75), Longstaff, Kane, Jones (Hill, 59).
Subs not used: Atherton, Varesanovic.
Next Match: Accrington Stanley (A) – EFL Trophy – Tuesday, October 29, 7.45pm (GMT)
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