Man United Res 0 Liverpool Res 0 (Feb 1 2007)

[TLW]

LIVERPOOL RES 1 Sheff Utd Res 0

Report by Peter Schulz at Ewen Fields

Scorer(s) Half Time – 0-0 Venue – Ewen Fields, Hyde United FC Date - Thu 1 Feb 2007 Star Man – Miki Roque

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boudewijn Zenden made his comeback from injury last night as Liverpool reserves side drew 0-0 with an experienced Manchester United side at Hyde United. The Dutchman played the opening 45 minutes with the same enthusiasm and commitment as we’ve come to expect from him.

The home side line up included several internationals such as Darren Fletcher, Mickaël Silvestre, Wes Brown, Alan Smith and Chinese star, Dong Fangzhou. He was, however, rather limp throughout the evening’s proceedings.

Having arrived early, we were told by other members of the press to just sit in the directors box, because it wouldn’t be full anyway. So we did. They also told us that Alex Ferguson was going to show up, so we were all hoping that we’d taken his seat. Personally, I was gutted when he failed to make it to see his new big Dong in action. But such is life.

Liverpool lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Antwi and Roque between fullbacks Darby and Threlfall. In midfield Peltier partnered Zenden with Guthrie and Flynn on either wing. Up front El Zhar and Lindfield were to battle it out with Silvestre and Brown. David Martin was back in goal. Strangely, none of the new signings were even included in the squad. Paul Anderson, out with a groin injury, was there watching with new boys Brouwer and Huth.

Manchester Utd started off the game in dominant mood and within the opening half hour had missed three decent opportunities. Twice, the superb Miki Roque got down to block goalbound efforts from Fletcher and Eagles, and Alan Smith scuffed an attempt wide from 12 yards after Ryan Flynn had presented him with the ball with a mistimed header. The ball seemed to be mostly in our half.

The reds, playing in yellow, did have a couple of half chances from long range through Zenden and Lindfield, but the home side’s defence looked very comfortable. Dong was still trying his best to bring some satisfaction to the magnificent home support. About 5-10 lads in their 20s and 30s spent the entire game singing the usual songs about scousers.

So what did you do on Thursday then, boys? We spent the evening shouting abuse at a bunch of youngsters playing for Liverpool. Wow, how interesting your everyday lives must be…

Fortunately, the young reds defence seemed intent on not letting them celebrate a goal and as the half progressed Liverpool created the two best chances before the interval. First Craig Lindfield curled a brilliant shot towards the top corner, but the keeper did well to keep it out. Two minutes later Nabil El Zhar’s half volley from the edge of the box fizzed just over the bar.

Man Utd made three changes during half time. Goalkeeper Heaton and midfielder Fletcher were replaced by Crockett and Burns, and the halfwit fans behind David Martin’s goal had decided to switch ends and give him more of the tried and tested “you scouse bastard” treatment. The keeper was born in Romford.

Even though Dong had fired blanks for 45 minutes, the home side persisted in the hope that he would explode into action.

Liverpool introduced Jack Hobbs in place of Zenden, and the youngster, coming back from a broken foot, made a good impression in the “Hamann role” as the reds were much improved in the second half.

Within four minutes of the restart Liverpool had the ball in United’s net, but the linesman raised his flag for some reason, apparently for offside as El Zhar latched onto a well-executed through ball from the excellent Guthrie and placed the ball just inside the far post.

The reds began to dominate proceedings as El Zhar saw his 30 yard effort dip a fraction too late. Craig Lindfield, who never ever stopped running, tested the keeper with an amazing effort from the right touchline almost by the corner flag, but his attempt was palmed onto the cross bar and out for a corner.

Two minutes from time, a deep cross from United’s left found Chris Eagles arriving at the back post, but he stabbed it wide. Liverpool then handed a reserve debut for left back/winger Michael Burns, and as time was running out, Man of the match Roque, with his only mistake of the night, presented Dong with a scoring opportunity, but the Chinese pissed it away (it hit the post).

Gary Ablett can’t have been too disappointed with his side’s performance in this fixture, but hopefully we’ll get to see some of the new faces like Insua, Padelli and Brouwer in action when the reserves travel to Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Team: Martin; Darby, Roque, Antwi, Threlfall; Flynn, Peltier, Zenden (Hobbs), Guthrie; El Zhar (Burns), Lindfield: