Jan
21
Liverpool drew 3-3 in a fast and exciting game between two accomplished sides. The reds probably deserved the point although Man City cut through them with ease for much of the second half.
The game
The game was played at a quicker tempo than most reserve team games and the persistent fine rain helped quicken the surface. Liverpool scored with their first shot after a nice move which wasn’t getting behind City. Eccleston was guilty of a bad miss which would have given the reds an undeserved two goal advantage, after Pacheco’s harrying of the defender regained possesion.
The City goal came after a point blank save from Gulacsi but the reds failed to clear the resulting ball.
Liverpool’s second came after neat and skillful interchange between Eccleston and Spearing and the latter picked his spot well from 12-odd yards out.
The reds didn’t start the second half well and particularly after Irwin replaced Plessis ran through the heart of Liverpool twice in a couple of minutes.
Pacheco had a great chance to level in the 89th – after a ball over the top from Gulacsi but the reds didn’t create much and the rain was slowing down the pitch.
The equaliser came after a food cross-field pass from Threlfall and Ayala showed superb presence of mind to chest the ball to Saric who squeezed it in the corner in what was about his only contribution.
The performances
Going to the game gave me a much better insight than I’ve had from the TV – as good as the coverage is.
I was really impressed by the way Pacheco led the line and in the first half particularly he was tenacious at closing down defenders and winning back possession. He does try to play too many tricky balls when simple ones would be better and sometimes I felt his desire to drop deep to get involved in the second half meant that the reds didn’t have an attacking outlet.
It wasn’t a game where any of the wingers prospered but David Amoo caught my eye. He’s previously been dismissed by some as an athlete rather than a footballer. However, on sevaral occasions tonight his close control was exceptional.
Jay Spearing is particularly impressive to see live. His late runs into the box, vocal coordination of midfield and hard work in defence can go unnoticed but is hugely impressive.
Ayala is so uncompromising and committed that he deserves a mention, although his distribution is as poor from viewing it in the stands as it is watching it on tele. Threlfall played well at centreback and Darby should be applauded for his effort given the cold shock of going from playing at a buzzing Anfield to a quiet Prenton Park – all inside 24 hours.
The gossip at the game was that Plessis is looking to get out at the end of the season and nothing about his performance suggested otherwise. He did provide good cover to the defence but was tentative in the tackle and hesitant on the ball.
Liverpool remain top of the table and the next game, against Man United, will go a long way to determining whether they win the league.
Related posts:
- Liverpool reserves v Hull City post match analysis
- Liverpool reserves v Bolton reserves post match analysis
- Liverpool reserves v Man United reserves post match analysis
- Everton reserves v Liverpool reserves post match analysis
- Liverpool reserves v Sunderland reserves post match analysis
thx for the write up
Cheers for that it was interesting but could do with it being slghtly more descriptive in places and for the article to be read before posted as some annoying errors can be found. I have to put a word in think you meant and that spoils the reading. Anyway keep it up and good luck in achieving your ambition of becoming a journalist if tht is your aim. If not it looks like it should be.
I should have read my own comment before submitting also.
Thanks for your feedback Jake – very kind of you to take the trouble.
There are a couple of mistakes, partly because I was writing it on my iPhone on the merseyrail and I was so cold I was all fingers and thumbs and partly because after 6 goals, live, I forgot some of the build-up to the first goal.
I don’t have any ambitions to be a journalist. I just like watching the reserves and try to help those reds who want to know more about the up and coming players.
Where would you have liked more details? Is it about the match or the players?
The write up on the players was excellent.
For me the article is let done by the part of the article that describes the game. Due to your explanation i will leave it at that once I have added due to these mistakes the game jumps from place to place and the write up is therefore hard to follow.
My favourite parts are the synopsis and the player review. The synopsis is particularly concise.