Liverpool U21s 4-3 West Brom U21s: Match Report & Rob Page | OneFootball

Following on from the first team making a safe passage through to the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday night, it was the turn of the Under 21s to continue a positive weekend for the Reds and the academy after a 6-1 win for the Under 18s preceded events at Anfield. 

Rob Page’s options were boosted by the availability of Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha after the trio all played a variety of cameos for Arne Slot’s side. Kieran Morrison captained the team after the winger was an unused substitute in the 3-0 win over Brighton.

Regulars such as Carter Pinnington, Trent Kone Doherty and Will Wright were also involved from the start in Kirkby as the youngsters looked to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw against Southampton last weekend. 

Despite the strong lineup, it was the visitors who made the early inroads and were in front when Miller McDonald powered a rebounded shot past Armin Pecsi in the opening 10 minutes. 

After weathering a mini storm, the game became an end-to-end contest, and it was a moment of quality from Ngumoga in the centre of the pitch that sparked the Liverpool equaliser. Nyoni received the ball from the 17-year-old before slipping through Wright to finish in style. 

The response didn’t last, however, as West Brom went almost straight up the other end from kick off and hit the front again when January signing Noah Adekoya inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. 

Shortly before the half-hour mark, it was the influential Ngumoha who was again at the heart of the attack as the former Chelsea youngster found Kone Doherty, who kept his composure to lay the ball on a plate for Nyoni to finish. 

Then came perhaps the moment of the match. Ngmoha picked up a pass from Nyoni before jinking inside two defenders and setting up a beautiful finish that powered its way inside the far post. 

Now in the ascendancy, Liverpool seemed to have hammered home their position when Ngumoha once again released Wright, who in turn found Morrison to take a touch and finish low and hard to give Page’s side the first two-goal cushion of the afternoon. 

But, not to be perturbed, the physical visitors hit back once again through Ryan Colesby after a well-worked West Brom move to cut the deficit in half and it meant it was game on for the final 30 minutes. 

Seemingly showing signs of tiredness as the Midlands’ club grew, the Reds were tested in the closing stages but hung on for a crucial win and moved themselves into fifth in Premier League 2 with the three hard-earned points. 

Speaking after the match, Page was pleased with his side’s efforts, plus one or two individual standout performers…

On the match: “We knew it was never going to be easy. One thing you get from a West Brom team is physicality. So, firstly, we knew we had to start the game fast and strong and match them with that and then add some. And then, with the team selection that we had available for us today, give us an opportunity to then go and impose our play, our style on them, which is what we’ve inherited in recent weeks. We’ve now got an identity that we’re full of energy. We’ve got athletic fullbacks and great wide players. We’re such an attacking threat that if you get both sides of the game right, which is what we have, we really pride ourselves in doing, then you help yourself win games of football against tough teams like that. I thought there was room for improvement today. Our final decision-making at the end could be better. We got through a couple of times with Trent one-on-one, and that final pass, I just complimented Rio on doing it. Selfishly, being a pass for Will, he squares it, and we get the goal from it. So, work in progress, but really pleased. It’s a good sign that you’re not happy, but you’re still winning games of football.”

On the ability to see the game out: “I’m proud of them for that today. There are always little parts of the game that you’re going to want to improve on and do better at. Your foundations, your mentality, your willingness to defend and throw yourself on the line, they’ve done that today. They had to, against a team that was quite physical, put balls in the box, two big lads up top. They had to defend today, and two or three were going down with cramps, so they put a right shift in again.”

On having first team availability: “I was at the game. I thought the first team were outstanding last night, and I thought they were excellent. Just sitting there watching them play last night and having our four young lads involved, Rio, Trey, Kieran and Rambo, and then we speak with the staff after, and we’re able to have all four involved. Understandably, I’m able to manage Rio’s minutes because of his involvement with the first team, whereas the others we had a little bit more free rein with. It’s good that we work together because it’s all about the players. We all want to get these players to play at the top, top level or as high as they can.”

Injury latest: “We’re still waiting for scan results (Keyrol Figueroa), so it’s not going to be a quick fix. I’m not talking about a serious injury, but I’m also not talking back next week. We’ll wait to see what happens with that. Mor (Talla Ndiaye) is on the grass. We had to shut him down for the first few weeks that he was in, just because of something that was flagged up. Nothing too significant to worry about, but just something that we had to manage. Thankfully, now he’s back on the grass, and I beat him in head tennis last week.”

On Will Wright: “Even their staff commented on it. He stands out first and foremost because of his work ethic, and he should never ever lose that. I think it’s because of his upbringing, I think it’s because of the levels that he’s done in the hard yards. He’s had to play and fight for every minute on the pitch, and I think that comes out in his game. First and foremost, if you’ve got that attitude, you’ve got a chance in the game. There are things to work on within his game and of course, we’ll give him the time, and we see that development in him. I’m really pleased with him, and he gets his goal,s and he works so hard for the team, it’s incredible.”

On Kieran Morrison: “I’ve seen a massive difference in Kiro from when I’ve been here six, seven months now. The difference from when we first worked with him in pre-season to now is night and day, it really is. I’m seeing a real maturity in his performance on the pitch, but also off the pitch. He’s earned the armband, he’s earned it. If Amara’s not playing, he leads the lads. He was the one rallying them last week, down to ten men. He’s the one saying to the lads – ‘Imagine how good it’s going to feel if we can hold on’ – I’m proud of him for that, really proud of him for that.  If he continues on that journey, he’ll have a decent career in the game, wherever that may be. Hopefully, it’s with our first team; if not, he’ll have a career in the game if he continues to develop. I think he’s a good example to some of the other lads.”

On MSK Zilina experience: “They’ll grow from it, they’ll learn from it. That’s what you want to do in development football. You want to expose them to as many opportunities as possible and as many uncomfortable situations as you possibly can. It was a difficult experience for them. We took an early lead, and we’d done really well up to that point. Then I think we obviously didn’t get the result we wanted. It’s difficult for the lads as well because we throw together a team that’s some 21s, some 06s, then there’s six or seven Under-18s, and we probably have one training session. It’s a big ask of the players to then go and give a polished performance against teams that train together every day and play together week in, week out. I’ve got to say that about them first and foremost. It is a big ask for them. They’ve done really well to get to that position, and we’ll be disappointed, of course, when we come back. I think we missed an opportunity to go further into the competition. They’ll have learned from those experiences and become better having gone through them.”

Long-term injury update: “Jayden (Danns) is doing really well. We do have a medical meeting on Tuesday, so I’ll know more then to what level he’s at. Every morning he’s out on the grass, and he’s getting better and better, stronger and stronger every day.”