Paul Hassall 25 November 2009
LFC Official Website
John McMahon is confident Liverpool Reserves can extend their winning run and end 2009 on a high when they face Wigan tonight - a match you can watch exclusively live on this website from 7.30pm GMT.
The Reds are guaranteed to finish the year top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North if they can pick up the three points at the Robin Park Sports Arena, but McMahon has warned his players against any complacency in their last competitive match until January.
"Wigan will provide us with a big test," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "The league table can be very deceptive. I've watched Wigan a few times this season and they are very strong and competitive, so we know we will be in for a tough evening.
"At the end of the day we are Liverpool Football Club and everyone wants to do their best against us.
"We'd like to think we can keep our run going. If we play to our abilities we should be okay, but you never know.
"Teams change every week at this level. That's the nature of it; you have to give lads playing time. We might have a couple of first-team lads who haven't travelled so they might be made available to us.
"We are looking for the consistency you need to get into the first-team squad so we are hoping the regulars in our side will perform."
He added: "Gerardo Bruna is just on his way back after a lengthy spell out, so he will be available for us. We'll have to wait and see."
After losing the first match of the season 3-2 at Blackburn, the second-string have responded with an impressive nine-match winning run that has seen them surge to the top of the table and progress to the next round of the Lancashire Senior Cup at the expense of Manchester United.
McMahon admits it has been a good start for his side but feels there is much more to come from them in the New Year.
"We are getting better," he said. "It's positive for us. Our main aim is for the group of players to improve and develop and that's all we can ask for. We can see the rewards are on the way, so I'm quite pleased.
"I think as a team we are looking better. We are more organised and the lads are starting to understand their jobs both individually and within a team set up. We'd like to think it is all coming together.
"Good results are great but the overall development (of players) is what we are after."
The likes of Dani Pacheco and Gerardo Bruna have been particularly impressive for the reserves so far this season, a run of form that has led Rafael Benitez to hand the duo squad numbers for European matches.
McMahon is pleased for the young attackers and feels their reward will set an example of what can be achieved if the rest of his squad continue to develop their respective games.
"It's great for them and it's good that they are thought to be of a standard that they can be involved with the first-team," he said. "The fact that they've been given numbers is a boost to them and for the group."
Benitez recently told Liverpoolfc.tv. how pleased he was with the reserves' progress under McMahon.
The former Shrewsbury Town coach admits it is nice to receive praise from the boss but insists he will never lose sight of his most important objective.
"It's always nice to hear people saying you are doing a decent job, but again, it's all about producing players," he added.
"If we can produce a couple more players as the season goes on, then that's the best possible reward for us."
LFC Official Website
John McMahon is confident Liverpool Reserves can extend their winning run and end 2009 on a high when they face Wigan tonight - a match you can watch exclusively live on this website from 7.30pm GMT.
The Reds are guaranteed to finish the year top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North if they can pick up the three points at the Robin Park Sports Arena, but McMahon has warned his players against any complacency in their last competitive match until January.
"Wigan will provide us with a big test," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "The league table can be very deceptive. I've watched Wigan a few times this season and they are very strong and competitive, so we know we will be in for a tough evening.
"At the end of the day we are Liverpool Football Club and everyone wants to do their best against us.
"We'd like to think we can keep our run going. If we play to our abilities we should be okay, but you never know.
"Teams change every week at this level. That's the nature of it; you have to give lads playing time. We might have a couple of first-team lads who haven't travelled so they might be made available to us.
"We are looking for the consistency you need to get into the first-team squad so we are hoping the regulars in our side will perform."
He added: "Gerardo Bruna is just on his way back after a lengthy spell out, so he will be available for us. We'll have to wait and see."
After losing the first match of the season 3-2 at Blackburn, the second-string have responded with an impressive nine-match winning run that has seen them surge to the top of the table and progress to the next round of the Lancashire Senior Cup at the expense of Manchester United.
McMahon admits it has been a good start for his side but feels there is much more to come from them in the New Year.
"We are getting better," he said. "It's positive for us. Our main aim is for the group of players to improve and develop and that's all we can ask for. We can see the rewards are on the way, so I'm quite pleased.
"I think as a team we are looking better. We are more organised and the lads are starting to understand their jobs both individually and within a team set up. We'd like to think it is all coming together.
"Good results are great but the overall development (of players) is what we are after."
The likes of Dani Pacheco and Gerardo Bruna have been particularly impressive for the reserves so far this season, a run of form that has led Rafael Benitez to hand the duo squad numbers for European matches.
McMahon is pleased for the young attackers and feels their reward will set an example of what can be achieved if the rest of his squad continue to develop their respective games.
"It's great for them and it's good that they are thought to be of a standard that they can be involved with the first-team," he said. "The fact that they've been given numbers is a boost to them and for the group."
Benitez recently told Liverpoolfc.tv. how pleased he was with the reserves' progress under McMahon.
The former Shrewsbury Town coach admits it is nice to receive praise from the boss but insists he will never lose sight of his most important objective.
"It's always nice to hear people saying you are doing a decent job, but again, it's all about producing players," he added.
"If we can produce a couple more players as the season goes on, then that's the best possible reward for us."
would be great for there confidence if we drew a few nobodies in Europe and let the kids shine. 
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