Liverpool U18s 2-2 Middesbrough U18s: Match Report & Simon Wiles | OneFootball

Liverpool U18s twice came from behind to earn a point against Middlesbrough U18s in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the AXA Academy on Saturday afternoon.

Eamonn Tohill opened the scoring when the forward found space behind the Liverpool defence before calmly slipping the ball past Matty Wright to put the visitors ahead.

Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and were unsurprisingly still behind at the break; however, the Reds responded strongly after the interval and levelled just four minutes into the second half when Charlie Coxon fed Finn Inglethorpe, who showed excellent composure to slot the ball beyond former Liverpool goalkeeper DJ Bernard.

Parity didn’t last long when Middlesbrough restored their lead just before the hour mark. Liverpool were caught in transition, allowing Tohill to follow up on a saved effort and fire home his second of the afternoon.

AJ Yeguo produced a clever piece of skill on the left before delivering into the box. The ball fell kindly for Inglethorpe, the captain duly smashed his second goal in style on the half volley.

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Despite being behind twice, Simon Wiles’ side showed plenty of character to fight back and secure a share of the points. Inglethorpe’s brace was the highlight, although Yeguo and Wright also deserve immense credit for their performances. 

The draw gives Liverpool their first point of the U18 Premier League campaign after last weekend’s narrow defeat to Manchester City, and Dan caught up with the boss after the game…

On the performance: “We had things that we needed to address at half-time. I didn’t think we asked enough questions. In the middle of the back line. So that was the message early doors. Especially that opening part. The second half, see if we can put them on the back foot. It was the same message we did say before the game. But we didn’t really carry it out in the first half. So, for us to get back into the game early in the second half was really good. And then it was just trying to keep that momentum and keep building on how we started. See if we could get anything more out of the game.”

On captain Finn Inglethorpe: “We look at how the players are day-to-day. And the behaviours and how dedicated they are. Matched with how that translates onto the pitch. And I think he’s someone that’s incredibly intelligent. He understands the game. He understands the environment. He understands what best practice looks like day-to-day. So, for me, in terms of leadership and how we can set the tone and set the standards day-to-day. I think that responsibility of putting him with the armband is an important one for us. Because that’s the culture that we want to drive throughout the whole season. So, yeah, we think that that was the right choice. Along with two or three others that were part of a group that we’ve got this season. But for me, yeah, he’s someone that I feel that the lads can look up to day-to-day. And what the habit should be like as a player at Liverpool Football Club.”

More on Inglethorpe: “We know we can score goals. We know we’ve got the full variety of goals. And I’m just delighted after how last season finished for him. Seven, eight months out in total. To come back in the first two games and have three goals to his name is fantastic. And I’m sure he’s probably disappointed he didn’t get the third one today. But no, he’s in a really good place. He’s really dedicated, like I say. And, yeah, hopefully there’s more to come from him.”

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On Matty Wright: “When you see his standards day-to-day, it doesn’t surprise that he pulls off those game-winning moments. That’s what they’re there to do, aren’t they? To provide them saves in those key moments. And I just think, from our side, it’s just making sure that we take a little bit more care further up the pitch and with our decision-making to stop them from creating chances on our goal. We’re delighted that he’s in the form that he’s in. But we’ve just got to make sure that we’re a little bit better in those parts higher up the pitch. It’s a really exciting time for him because over the last two years, his performances in training have been outstanding, not just in the training side of it, but also in and around the building. And his dedication to learning and having conversations with Neil Edwards, his goalkeeper coach, day in, day out about how we can improve. So for us to see the level of performance, it doesn’t surprise us that he’s performing the way that he’s performed. We’ve seen it for so long. But now it’s just building up the game time for him. Obviously, training is a little bit different to the decision-making that you get put under through fixtures. So the more games that he can play, the better that we’re going to get a Matty Wright.”

On the influence a change of first team manager has: “I think the big thing is probably the mentality of how it’s seen and how we can then start implementing that into our players, which we know they have, but obviously there’s a real driver in terms of how hard they’re going to have to work and emptying the tank day-to-day, which is consistent messaging. But it’s just knowing that that’s the first thing that they’ll be looking at as well. So I think from our side, it’s just making sure that the players, the intensity, how aggressive they are in the duels, making sure that when there’s a ball there to go and compete, we come out with the ball and we can try and attack quickly. And that’s the key message that we’ve been driving home to the players. And hopefully, as you say, you look at the 21s last night; that was a really competitive game, which was great. So if there are any of our players that have got that aspiration to get to that next stage, make sure they’re doing it at our level consistently, and it’s going to be a transition that they can cope with moving forward.  So, yes, I mean, that’s been a great part of it, knowing that that’s going to be the key principles of how we want to embed our play. So, yes, long may it continue.”

On injuries: “La’More has just got an issue with his hamstring. So, yes, hopefully that’s not too long. But again, the demands that we’re putting on the players in training so we can incorporate how we need to look at it on a match day, obviously that’s risen as well. So he’s just got a little one there that we’ve just got to see how he recovers from, and hopefully we’ll see him on the pitch soon. Eric Farkas is not too far away, I don’t think. He got injured in the Swansea game in pre-season. Nothing too concerning. So I think it’s just his foot settling down. So hopefully we’ll get him back in training. Hopefully we can get Eric back out on the grass at the back end of this week and see where we are for game time moving forward.”