Sep
2
Liverpool reserves v Bolton reserves post match analysis
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Liverpool reserves beat Bolton Wanderers reserve team more comfortably than their senior counterparts with a 3-1 win at Prenton Park tonight. Whilst all the goals had an element on luck, it was the least the reds deserved and Bolton produced very little.
The reds started well with Eccleston seeing a fair amount of the ball, continuing with the good play that he’d shown last time out. He was playing down the middle with Nikola Saric – the kid with a back-story to die for. However, that meant he often found himself with his back to goal, holding the ball up rather than using his pace to take on defenders. He did well, although he faded as the half went on.
The first goal came after good distribution from Gulacsi, Eccleston knocked it back to Amoo who used his pace to drive into the Bolton half. He laid the ball square to Saric who was brought down on the edge of the box. Bruna took the free kick which was diverted by an out-stretched defender’s leg as the reds took the lead.
Unlike last week, Liverpool continued to press the ball in the first half and Bolton were reduced to long balls and set pieces. The reds didn’t really make their superiority count, though they weren’t helped by a downpour so great that the TV pictures looked grainy or covered in smoke.
The second goal was also lucky. Just after he came on Brouwer chased down the Bolton defender clearing the ball, who kicked it against Brouwer’s foot for the ball to rebound into the goal. As lucky as it was it was nice to see Brouwer score who has often struggled at Liverpool and looked desperately short of confidence in pre-season (imagine Voronin without the touch, pace, vision or confidence). However, his goal didn’t spark much of a personal revival and he continued to hang around on the fringes of the game.
It was frustrating that Liverpool weren’t really able to keep the ball or move Bolton around. They did create chances but they were isolated moves rather than sustained pressure. Perhaps Liverpool lacked a bit of width with Bruna and Amoo regularly coming off their flanks to get involved. As with last week, the final pass was often lacking. But Pacheco was at the heart of everything good. Perhaps the young reds aren’t certain in each other’s movements or lack the confidence to just go for it.
Bolton got a goal back when Liverpool failed to clear a ball after a searching cross from Liverpool’s left back position. Gulacsi twice pulled off point blank stops and looked really angry when the goal went in.
The third goal came after a godo through-ball from Pacheco, a cross from Eccleston and a good finish on his weaker left foot by Kacaniklic who was making his debut for the reserves. After that, Liverpool had a much easier time of it and Pacheco and Bruna both went close and Kacaniklic and Mendy both had decent chances.
After last week the reds deserved a bit of luck and the win will have done them some good. The Prenton Park pitch held out well and it was good to see them play on search a good footballing surface.
On the downside, the structure of the league makes it difficult for those not involved. For Kelly and Plessis, who were both on the bench against Bolton, they’ve missed amother chance at competitive football. For Spearing sitting in the stands, and for the likes of Weijl, Flora and Martin they’ve now twice sat out games – with just 16 remaining for the rest of the league season.
There were also some positive elements from a number of players:
- Although untroubled, Ayala appears to have grown in confidence after his first team excersions. It was a shame to see him limp off near the end but he was good in posession and strong in the air
- Mavinga had a difficult debut, making an embarrassing slip in the first half which almost led to a goal but contributed more in the second half. He looks small in stature, despite being 6 ft.
- Pacheco was at the heart of everything and rightly got MOtM. It’s great to see him get a run in the team and he footballing intelligence and vision is superb. As he said himself, he needs to be a bit less ambitious in some of his play and might need more physicality to play premiership football
- It was good to see Bruna get a full 90 minutes and contribute defensively again. He still flatters to deceive and drifts in and out of games but is improving all the time. A good run in the team will reveal whether he has the ability to push on.
- I was pleased to see Darby at right back, where he is comfortable, although Irwin offered more going forward from left back (although he’s more naturally suited to playing right-sided)
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- Liverpool reserves v Sunderland reserves post match analysis
- Liverpool v Manchester City reserves: post match analysis