Liverpool reserves beat Sunderland reserves 2-0 in a stop-start game at Prenton Park with the victory sending the reds to the top of the league. The build up to the game was all about Alberto Aquilani’s pending 75th minute appearance in a red shirt but, in truth, the game was all about hard work and Dani Pacheco. Goodness knows what the on-watching George Gillett made of it all.
The match
This was a good test for the young Liverpool team against a number of experienced Sunderland players including Nosworthy and Marton Fulop. The referee ensured it would be a scrappy game thanks to some officious – although not unfair – penalising of some lively defensuve play. Sunderland never really threatened the Liverpool goal, except for a couple of chances around the hour mark. However, Liverpool struggled to create clear chances. Eccleston ran at defenders, who more often than not brought them down. This led to the freekick on the stroke of half time which yielded the first goal. Dani Pacheco had a previous effort straight down the keeper’s throat but that was slightly further out and closer to the touchline. This was perfect, about 20-25 yards out, to the left of the penalty area. The keeper got there but the effort was too good.
The second half was more open as Sunderland looked for the equaliser and Liverpool looked compact in defence and quick on the break. The second goal came in the last 10 minutes as Pacheco floated a fantastic freekick into the box from the right hand side and Robbie Threlfall connected well with the header. The ball was that good that if had missed, Ayala would have scored instead.
I really enjoy watching the reserves because game on game, they appear to improve on their weaknesses and the strengths get better. I was really impressed by the workrate of the team, closing down Sunderland from front to back – and from a team missing experienced players like Spearing, Plessis and Kelly.
Outstanding performances
Today was all about Dani Pacheco. He is playing slightly deeper than before, more in midfield than off the front man and he influences the game much more. He gave the ball away occassionally with some of his more ambitious passes but his vision is incredible, picking out passes that others don’t see, spreading the play and having great close control. His ‘Hollywood balls’ may not be Gerrard-esque but his incisive, attacking passing is the reserve team equivalent of Alonso.
The defensive aspects of his game are improving and he was always harrying the Sunderland players – and got unfairly booked for 3 ’something of nothing’ challenges.
Nathan Eccelton was very exciting, never failing to run at defenders. However, he wasn’t quite so good at bringing other players into the game. He had a great chance near the end when he just tried to beat too many players rather than having the shot or bringing in a team mate.
David Amoo came into the game more in the second half and caused problems for defenders.
Ayala is slightly too keen to get stuck in – and probably conceeded more freekicks than you’d like for a centre half.
It was great to see Irwin in his better position of centre midfield though, for me, he lacked a bit of defensive discipline as he chased after the ball. He doesn’t yet have the presence at this level that, say, Palsson or Spearing bring to the team.
Threlfall looked really solid and sometimes offered good support going forward. It was a brave decision to turn down another loan move, but the gamble paid off tonight.
The negatives
Nikola Saric didn’t really make an impact and it’s painful watching someone with as little confidence as Brouwer in front of goal. As a team, there were passages where they looked tired – and lost a bit of concentration. And it would be good to see someone who was able to dictate play more, and Liverpool keep the ball better. But from what I’ve seen thus far, they’ll be working on this.
Alberto Aquilani
It was great to see him and he looked delighted to be playing – I even saw Doc Mark Waller smile at the end of the game! It must have been nice for him to come into a confident team, playing well near the top of the table. Much easier than being the great white hope for a struggling team without confidence. Oh.
He played a couple of nice passes – and sat just off the front men. But we didn’t see enough to come to any conclusions. My guess is that he will be on the bench against Arsenal for the Carling Cup and will not play a full part until the middle of November.
For the first time this season I didn’t see Rafa at a home reserve team game, which was odd. Perhaps he didn’t want to put pressure on Aquilani. Or perhaps he didn’t want to be too close to Gillett.
Next game: Everton v Liverpool reserves, 3 November
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Good article keep it up, I agree with you Irwin looks a lot better in centre mid, should really be kept in that position to develop
Thanks Mark. I’m looking forward to seeing Irwin developing but it might be tough for him to get game time when competing against Spearing and Palsson.
yeah I think your right, not so mad on spearing I have to say. The main thing is for him to get games and in CM. I went to the reserve game at city and he played really well
I put a link to your blog on the reserve team thread at ‘this is anfield’
[...] analysed his first half contribution for Liverpool reserves against Sunderland to show what he brings to the team. You’ll notice that he lost the ball a few times – [...]