Adam Morgan scored a devastating long-range lob as Liverpool U21s eased to a deserved 2-0 victory over Manchester City in their Barclays U21 Premier League clash at Ewen Fields on Monday night.
The striker's unstoppable finish - coupled with a second-half side-footed goal from Cameron Brannagan - ensured that Alex Inglethorpe's side left Hyde FC's ground with all three points on a thoroughly encouraging evening for the young Reds.
Rafael Paez, a recent acquisition from Real Madrid, put on an assured display at the heart of Liverpool's defence as he helped to keep the hosts at bay.
In an opening 20 minutes that produced very little goalmouth action, Manchester City's Seko Fofana was the first to cause a degree of concern for Liverpool's backline.
The home side intercepted possession deep into the Reds' half that gifted Fofana a brief glimpse of goal from 20 yards. The youngster rushed his effort, dragging a low drive well wide.
Shortly after, Stephen Sama's headed effort was equally wayward. The centre-back met a corner with a powerful nod that flew narrowly over the crossbar.
Morgan corrected his side's previously inaccurate aiming in the most emphatic fashion minutes later with a beautifully-struck long-range effort that rendered goalkeeper Ian Lawlor completely helpless.
The striker received possession just beyond the halfway line before swiftly turning and sending a sublime attempt soaring over the City custodian and into the back of the net to stun the hosts.
Sama was inches away from doubling the visitors' tally on the stroke of half-time, but his effort mirrored his header earlier in the half. The towering defender was first to meet a set-piece yet again but he flicked the ball agonisingly over the goalframe.
The Reds were nearly made to rue that missed opportunity so soon after the restart. Devante Cole rose to meet a corner and headed towards goal but was accidentally foiled by the torso of a fellow Blue - Shay Facey - before Liverpool reacted rapidly to clear the remaining danger.
City continued to pour forward in a desperate search for an equaliser but found themselves constantly thwarted by a sturdy Reds defence.
A cross from the right flank flashed across the face of goal and drew no contact until it fell to the feet of Sinan Bytyqi, who hesitated before striking a shot that was expertly blocked by the energetic Jordan Rossiter.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, the Reds compounded Patrick Vieira's side's misery through a composed finish from Brannagan. Sama utilised a combination of pace and strength to surge past Bytyqi and Adam Drury before drilling the ball into the area for the midfielder to calmly side-foot past Lawlor.
Liverpool built on an impressive move by continuing to prevent City from having any joy in the final third of the pitch as the Reds comfortably closed out the game to deservedly secure all three points.
LFC: Ward, Sama (c), Maguire, Paez, Jones, Roddan, McLaughlin, Rossiter, Morgan, Dunn (Bijev 54), Brannagan.
Former Reds Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Rob Jones have returned to Liverpool's Academy to assist with the development of the club's U21s and U18s players.
Today, Brendan Rodgers praised the club's hat-trick of new signings and emphasised how their knowledge will help nurture the Reds' Kirkby starlets.
"It's great to have Robbie, Steve and Rob on board," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"I said at the end of last season that I wanted to get more former players involved and over the off-season I spoke to a number of them about a possible role here.
"For me it's so important to have players like that around. These are players who the young guys look up to.
"The three of them have come in recently and I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having that involvement of working with the kids.
"We're starting with the older Academy players as they are ones they can really affect at this moment.
"It's both coaching and mentoring, and Alex Inglethorpe is managing that process."
Rodgers outlined how McManaman will help guide the club's young wingers, Jones will work with the full-backs and defenders, while Fowler is, of course, to coach the strikers.
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发表于 18-9-2013 01:19 PM
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