Langtree Park was the scene. Liverpool versus Manchester United was the game. Alex Inglethorpe had the luxury of some players who’d experienced senior level games this season, and was therefore able to name a surprisingly strong side. Good news for the travelling fans.
The game started quickly for United as they had an extremely early chance to break the deadlock through Schlupp, which was well denied by Ward. This would continue to be a ding-dong battle throughout the game. The away side then had a number of other half chances during a good spell of possession. It’s fair to say they settled the better of the two teams.
This seemingly shook Liverpool into life. They managed to gain a firmer hold on the game from there on. The first chance of note that the Reds created was provided by a great Suso cross with Morgan getting on the end of it. Put wide, however. It’s worth noting that the move started from a well-directed Shelvey long ball. There were a good few of those Gerrard-esque passes to admire. Sama was booked for a soft foul on Schlupp, as were Adorjan and Wisdom for other isolated fouls. The remainder of the half very much continued in such fashion. Possession to both sides but no real chances created.
The second half began brightly for Liverpool. One of those aforementioned Shelvey passes put Wisdom through down the right, but his cross never found its intended target, Morgan. That was sadly superseded as the most eventful thing of the second half was Sama’s second yellow card, when he brought down Schlupp on the edge of the penalty area. That stunned the game, in truth. From that point for the next twenty odd minutes, United were on top, as you’d expect. Liverpool found it hard work.
Once the authority had been asserted, Manchester United’s best chance came through Buttner, who crossed to find Cole but he skewed his attempt for a tight angled finish. Andre Wisdom also made an error, now playing at centre back following Sama’s dismissal, to allow Schlupp in on goal. Yet another fine save from Ward.
Liverpool found a second wind in the last ten minutes, and began to push on. A lot of that charge being led by an eager and impressive Jonjo Shelvey, now playing at left back. Teixeira, who had a very good game also, had an effort well saved from distance. Sterling was switched to striker, as Morgan drifted out to the left, neither made any impact in their starting positions or their inherited ones, though. In what was pretty much the last attack of the game, United turned a period of sustained pressure and possession into a chance, which was converted by Fornasier. A gutting end to a valiant effort by the ten men.
Danny Ward and Jonjo Shelvey impressed for Liverpool, as did Joao Teixeira and Stephen Sama (whilst he was on the pitch). Raheem Sterling, Adam Morgan and Suso offered less than their reputations suggested they might. Manchester United had some decent players too. Buttner, Amos, Schlupp and Januzaj all stood out.
The referee seemed keen on punishing players quite easily, and set himself a precedent to follow early on. I caught up with Alex Inglethorpe after the game and he did say that he’d had a word with him at half time about the amounting yellow cards. Also said they’d “discussed” being careful in the dressing room, during the interval. Perhaps the reason for Sama being so disappointed.
Of the more senior players, he said “For them to come into this environment is a test of their mentality. They usually have their bigger brothers around them but today they were the bigger brothers. I thought Jonjo did that well. He played like a senior pro. I thought he led from the front.” I also asked Inglethorpe about Pelosi and his injury, something you could tell he was shaken by. He said “I’m distraught for him. As a young player it’s hard. It was a very sad day last week.”
Overall, it’s clear that whatever the outcome, Inglethorpe seemed pleased that there were events the players could learn from. That’s obviously important for him as he prepares them for life in the heights of the senior team. A good performance by Liverpool, if not the right result. They now sit second in the Elite Group with United moving up to fourth.
