Liverpool U21 1-2 Man Utd U21: Match Report and Rob Page
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Liverpool’s Under 21s were back in action on Sunday afternoon, hoping to repeat the trick of the first team some 24 hours earlier and earn victory over an arch rival, this time in the shape of Manchester United.
However, the day took on a whole new perspective following the overnight news of the sad passing of former Liverpool Women’s manager Matt Beard, subsequently leading to the postponement of the clash with Aston Villa that day.
Both sets of players and those in attendance at the AXA observed a poignant minute’s silence for a truly wonderful football man and an even better person, a popular figure who will be sadly missed by many, and our thoughts remain with Matt’s family and friends.
Once the game was underway, it was Rob Page’s side who started the brighter, despite a host of familiar faces being absent, and their lively beginning was rewarded when Michael Laffey followed in Joe Bradshaw’s effort to head home and open the scoring.
In the lead and proving more than a match for their arguably stronger visitors on paper, the Reds could easily have extended their lead on numerous occasions before Chido Obi fired home at the near post beyond Armin Pecsi.
No changes for either side at the break, but it wasn’t long before Page introduced Calvin Ramsay, the Scottish right-back, soon proving to be a viable attacking outlet for a tiring Liverpool side.
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Summer arrival Pecsi made a string of impressive saves before one fell to Jaydan Kamason to head in an 81st-minute winner for the visitors, to which Page’s charges attempted to respond but to no avail on a disappointing afternoon result-wise.
Speaking to the Welshman after the match, there were certainly some positives to take from the display…
On the performance: “I can’t fault them, they worked great again.
Part of this job is developing players as well, and we’ve had five who have trained with the first team today.
So if we’ve got a full team out there, it’d be a different game, I know that.
We hate losing games, but we have to be realistic as well, and I think part of the job is to develop players, and it’s good that the five lads have gone with the first team today.”
On the availability: “I think the first team’s schedule at the moment is intense, to say the least.
But we’re there to support them, and today there were a few players that needed to step up, and it’s great to see them over there training with the first team.
So, they’ve all trained with the first team today.”
On Will Wright’s injury situation: “It’s not as bad as we first thought.