Liverpool's u21 side turned on the style tonight at St Helens' Langtree Park Stadium, as five different players got on the scoresheet in a 5-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur.
Aly Cissokho got 90 minutes under his belt following his recent ankle injury, whilst long term absentees Brad Smith and Samed Yesil also made comebacks on what was a perfect night all round for Alex Inglethorpe's side.
With Cissokho and skipper Jon Flanagan occupying the full back berths, Inglethorpe used Smith and Ryan McLaughlin further forward in experimental roles. Both have played as wingers before, but this time they were on the opposite flank to that from which they usually operate.
It worked a treat, as McLaughlin won the penalty that allowed Adam Morgan to open the scoring from the spot before getting himself on the scoresheet when he rifled in a low cross from Smith. In between those strikes 17 year old midfielder Cameron Brannagan had also found the net when he latched onto a clever through ball from Cissokho before finishing with aplomb.
After the break Smith made it 4-0 with a stunning strike from distance before substitute Joao Carlos Teixera ran clear to score within seconds of entering the field.
Yesil almost marked his long awaited comeback with a goal too, being denied by the post after a fabulous through ball by Teixera had sent him clear.
The Spurs keeper was in excellent form and almost single handedly prevented a cricket score, making a string of fine saves to deny Morgan and McLaughlin on numerous occasions as Liverpool continued to push forward looking for more goals.
Team: Ward; Flanagan, Rafael Paez, Wisdom, Cissokho; Roddan, Rossiter, Brannagan (Teixera); Smith (Yesil), Morgan, McLaughlin (Peterson):
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