Liverpool Res 1 Sunderland Res 0 (Nov 29 2005)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 1 Sunderland Res 0

Report by Dave Usher at the Racecourse Ground

Scorer(s) - Paul Anderson Half Time - 0-0 Venue - The Racecourse Ground Date - Tue 29 Nov 2005 Star Man - Paul Anderson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Anderson’s first goal for the club was enough for Liverpool reserves to see off ten man Sunderland in a dour encounter at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground. Anderson struck in the second half, neatly volleying in at the back post from Darren Potter’s left wing free-kick, and the youngster who recently arrived from Hull was one of the few bright spots on the night.

The reds made several changes to the side which lost at Birmingham last week. Skipper Raven switched from right back to left back to replace Zak Whitbread, who is of course no on loan at Millwall. Antonio Barragan dropped back from midfield to right back, Miki Roque replaced Danny O’Donnell alongside Godwin Antwi at the heart of the defence, and David Mannix came into midfield after being left out of the starting line up last week.

In goal, the reds gave a run out to MK Dons’ David Martin, son of former West Ham defender Alvin. The poor lad couldn’t have had a worse game in which to try and make an impression, as the visitors were truly hopeless. He didn’t have a single shot to save, there were hardly any crosses to claim, and if it wasn’t for the occasional backpass he wouldn’t have touched the ball.

The first half was terrible. After a fairly bright opening quarter of an hour in which Mannix twice tested the keeper from distance, and Anderson sent a sweetly struck 20 yard volley inches wide, the game died a death. Sunderland couldn’t get out of their own half, so poor was their passing, whilst the reds’ attacks broke down in the final third all too often.

On 27 minutes Sunderland were reduced to ten men, when the centre forward went in late on Miki Roque as he played the ball upfield. It was a bad tackle, and the lad can have few complaints. Roque certainly felt it, but was able to resume after treatment.

The reds were playing a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Potter playing behind Calliste and Anderson, but they never seemed to get any kind of rhythm and it was too congested in the centre. With Sunderland a man short, they retreated even further into their own half, and posed no attacking threat whatsoever.

Liverpool were crying out for some width, and personally I’d have started with Adam Hammill. The midfield pairing of Hobbs and Peltier is just too negative. Both lads work hard and do a good job protecting the defence, but their first instinct when they have the ball seems to be to go backwards. Having one of them in there is fine, but when both play it definitely reduces the creative element.

Liverpool did start the second half with a better tempo, and it was noticeable that the full backs pushed forward a lot more after the break. Raven did well to surge into the box and get on the end of a good cross from Potter, but he couldn’t keep his shot down as he met the ball at full speed.

Potter then fizzed a shot over the bar from 25 yards, and then hit another one just wide after cutting in from the left and beating a couple of challenges. Hammill was then introduced for Peltier, and the reds adopted a 4-3-3 system with Hammill and Anderson either side of Calliste.

Hammill almost made an instant impact when he headed straight at the keeper from a good cross by Potter. Liverpool’s passing was ok up until the final third, but the lack of numbers in the box when the ball was out wide meant the Sunderland keeper didn’t have a great deal to do despite the constant possession the home side had.

The goal eventually arrived on the hour mark. Ravan was chopped down on the left flank, and when Potter sent the ball to the back post Anderson met it with the side of his right foot to smash the ball past Sunderland keeper Ben Carson. The 17 year old had been busy and bright, and he looks to have something about him. What caught my eye last week at Birmingham, and in this game, is that for such a slight lad he loves a tackle. He’s quick, skilful, has two good feet and clearly has heart.

Calliste almost doubled the lead within a minute when he turned well inside the box, but couldn’t find the power to beat Carson. The Welshman did have the ball in the net shortly afterwards, but it was correctly ruled out for offside. It looked a bit unnecessary too, as he turned in a shot by Anderson from virtually on the goalline. I couldn’t say fro certain, as I couldn’t really tell from where I was sat, but it looked like the ball was going in anyway and he had no need to touch, especially as he had to know he was offside.

Liverpool continued to huff and puff, and Raven burst through on goal in the final few minutes but his shot was saved by Carson.

After a promising start to the season, the reserves are not playing well at the moment. Defensively they are looking pretty solid, but there is a lack of creativity and up front the presence of Neil Mellor is being sorely missed. Calliste has been disappointing in the last few games, and he was replaced in this one by James Frayne.

In midfield Danny Guthrie began the season in great form, but he picked up an injury in the away win over Wigan, and hasn't played since. His absence has really hurt the side.

It was an easy game for the back four, because Sunderland were so impotent in attack. Some of the credit for that has to go to the two centre backs, who just as they have done all season, performed very solidly. Godwin looks so much more at home in the middle of the defence, whilst Roque has impressed me every time I’ve seen him so far. He’s not that big, but he has good spring and pace and competes very well in the air and on the ground.

Barragan showed some nice touches and played some excellent crossfield passes, but he definitely looks more of a winger than full back to me. Picking a star man after this is very tough. Anderson did ok and of course scored the only goal, so I’m going to give it to him just ahead of Roque.


Team: Martin; Barragan, Roque, Antwi, Raven; Peltier (Hammill), Hobbs, Mannix; Potter; Anderson, Calliste (Frayne):