Reserves v Chelsea

[DannyMan2006]

Reminds me of the first team. Rated highly by us but when they come up against top class opposition we are shown we're not actually as good as we all thought they were.

Actually, the first team are ****e against everyone, but maybe you get my point

[SB]

Liverpool Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 at Chelsea on Monday afternoon.

The Reds paid the price for a sluggish start as Nathaniel Chalobah and Fabio Borini put the Blues in the driving seat with two goals inside the opening half hour.

Nathan Eccleston did give John McMahon's side hope with a deflected effort just before half-time but it wasn't enough to help rescue a point as substitute Adam Phillip steered in a third 12 minutes from time.

It was all the more disappointing given that the second-string had gone into the clash full of confidence after securing their first win of the campaign at home to Wolves last time out.

However, given the calibre of opposition, McMahon would have been well aware that a showdown with the Londoners represented a big step up in class.

The sight of Portugal international, Jose Bosingwa taking his place in the starting XI was further evidence of the strength the hosts had at their disposal and it was perhaps no surprise to see them take control from the off.

Indeed, a moment of individual brilliance almost got them off to a flyer on five minutes but Martin Hansen did well to gather low at his left-hand post after Gokhan Tore had followed up a dazzling run with a venomous 25 yard strike.

It set the tone for what evolved into a very one-sided half with the lively Borini proving to be a particularly prominent and painful thorn in Liverpool's side.

First he saw his shot from a tight angle deflect to safety before Hansen produced an instinctive one-handed save to keep out the Italian's snap shot on the turn.

Liverpool had barely set foot in the Chelsea half but they almost snatched a goal against the run of play on the quarter of an hour mark when the bald Jonjo Shelvey sent a searching cross to the far post for Wilson, who could only nod his free header over the top.

It would prove to be a ****e miss as the home side poured forward and after Wilson almost turned the ball into his own net they finally did take the lead on 19 minutes.

A corner from the left was whipped to the far post, allowing Chalobah to rise above two defenders and guide a header that bounced up off the turf and in off the crossbar.

It was no more than the hosts deserved and McMahon's afternoon took another turn for the worse on 29 minutes when Chelsea doubled their advantage.

A lightning break saw Jacopo Sala surge at the Reds' backline before slipping a beautifully weighted pass into the channel for Borini, who raced through and despatched a low shot beyond Hansen and into the bottom corner.

At this point it was looking like being a rout but in timely fashion the visitors grabbed a lifeline with a rare attack on 43 minutes.

Suso wreaked havoc down the left wing and sent in a low cross that was only half-cleared by the Chelsea defence, providing Eccleston with the chance to smash home via a deflection.

McMahon would no doubt have had a few choice words with his players at the interval and they should have levelled on 54 minutes when David Amoo contrived to head wide after Blues stopper Jan Meh completely misjudged a corner.

The visitors appeared to have stepped up a gear and a delightful move involving Eccleston and Suso resulted in a free-kick that Dani Pacheco fizzed into the arms of Meh.

With Liverpool pushing for the equaliser it was inevitable gaps would appear at the back and Hansen had to be at his best again on 65 minutes when he denied substitute Aliuli Djalo following a fine run and cross from Borini.

The Reds' hopes were then boosted by the fantastic sight of Bosingwa limping off injured and with Chelsea having used their three substitutes, they played out the remainder of the clash with 10-men.

The game clearly had another goal in it but unfortunately for McMahon and co it went the way of the home side, who sealed the points on 78 minutes when Philipp guided in from close range following more great play by Borini.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Jonjo Shelvey. A combative display from the bald midfielder.

Liverpool Reserves: Hansen, Darby, Robinson, Wisdom, Wilson, Shelvey, Pacheco, Amoo (Roberts 72), Ince, Suso, Eccleston (Palsson 85). Unused subs: Bouzanis, Flanagan, Mavinga, Smedley.

Have you been doing your editing again Shaggy ?

[Pablo]

Liverpool Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 at Chelsea on Monday afternoon.

The Reds paid the price for a sluggish start as Nathaniel Chalobah and Fabio Borini put the Blues in the driving seat with two goals inside the opening half hour.

Nathan Eccleston did give John McMahon's side hope with a deflected effort just before half-time but it wasn't enough to help rescue a point as substitute Adam Phillip steered in a third 12 minutes from time.

It was all the more disappointing given that the second-string had gone into the clash full of confidence after securing their first win of the campaign at home to Wolves last time out.

However, given the calibre of opposition, McMahon would have been well aware that a showdown with the Londoners represented a big step up in class.

The sight of Portugal international, Jose Bosingwa taking his place in the starting XI was further evidence of the strength the hosts had at their disposal and it was perhaps no surprise to see them take control from the off.

Indeed, a moment of individual brilliance almost got them off to a flyer on five minutes but Martin Hansen did well to gather low at his left-hand post after Gokhan Tore had followed up a dazzling run with a venomous 25 yard strike.

It set the tone for what evolved into a very one-sided half with the lively Borini proving to be a particularly prominent and painful thorn in Liverpool's side.

First he saw his shot from a tight angle deflect to safety before Hansen produced an instinctive one-handed save to keep out the Italian's snap shot on the turn.

Liverpool had barely set foot in the Chelsea half but they almost snatched a goal against the run of play on the quarter of an hour mark when the bald Jonjo Shelvey sent a searching cross to the far post for Wilson, who could only nod his free header over the top.

It would prove to be a ****e miss as the home side poured forward and after Wilson almost turned the ball into his own net they finally did take the lead on 19 minutes.

A corner from the left was whipped to the far post, allowing Chalobah to rise above two defenders and guide a header that bounced up off the turf and in off the crossbar.

It was no more than the hosts deserved and McMahon's afternoon took another turn for the worse on 29 minutes when Chelsea doubled their advantage.

A lightning break saw Jacopo Sala surge at the Reds' backline before slipping a beautifully weighted pass into the channel for Borini, who raced through and despatched a low shot beyond Hansen and into the bottom corner.

At this point it was looking like being a rout but in timely fashion the visitors grabbed a lifeline with a rare attack on 43 minutes.

Suso wreaked havoc down the left wing and sent in a low cross that was only half-cleared by the Chelsea defence, providing Eccleston with the chance to smash home via a deflection.

McMahon would no doubt have had a few choice words with his players at the interval and they should have levelled on 54 minutes when David Amoo contrived to head wide after Blues stopper Jan Meh completely misjudged a corner.

The visitors appeared to have stepped up a gear and a delightful move involving Eccleston and Suso resulted in a free-kick that Dani Pacheco fizzed into the arms of Meh.

With Liverpool pushing for the equaliser it was inevitable gaps would appear at the back and Hansen had to be at his best again on 65 minutes when he denied substitute Aliuli Djalo following a fine run and cross from Borini.

The Reds' hopes were then boosted by the fantastic sight of Bosingwa limping off injured and with Chelsea having used their three substitutes, they played out the remainder of the clash with 10-men.

The game clearly had another goal in it but unfortunately for McMahon and co it went the way of the home side, who sealed the points on 78 minutes when Philipp guided in from close range following more great play by Borini.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Jonjo Shelvey. A combative display from the bald midfielder.

Liverpool Reserves: Hansen, Darby, Robinson, Wisdom, Wilson, Shelvey, Pacheco, Amoo (Roberts 72), Ince, Suso, Eccleston (Palsson 85). Unused subs: Bouzanis, Flanagan, Mavinga, Smedley.

[Kenneth]

Have you been doing your editing again Shaggy ?

The Reds' hopes were then boosted by the fantastic sight of Bosingwa limping off injured

You think?

[RedReet]

The game is on LFC TV now.

Do LFC TV show any reserve highlights? I don't mind watching a full replay of the first team even when I know the score (although thankfully in this day in age you rarely have to), but 90 minutes of reserve football is a bit much if you know how it's gonna go.

[SB]

You think?

[BigChief]

This game was a great wake up call for the mediocrity floating around our Academy. Our reserves in particular were getting too comfortable in an easier reserves league last season. Now, against classier oppos, the pretensions of Amoo, Ince and Ecclestone in particular are being shattered.

If those three need a lesson on how to improve their game instead of the quality of their ear studs, they need to watch and practice like Shelvey, Suso and Pacheco.

The latter 3 will make it for us thankfully. The former 3 will eventually be sold for some good money to keep the Academy going.

[RedReet]

Am I correct in saying that they changed the format of reserve football this year and it's now national? How does that work with so many teams, is there some sort of playoff system?

[red g]

teams are now split into three regional groups:

Group A: Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers

Group B: Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland

Group C: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers

Each team will face the other teams in their group twice, home and away. They will then face each of the other teams in the league overall either home or away.

The winners of Groups A and B will play off for the right to meet Group C’s victors in the Premier Reserve League Final.


think this is becuase spurs, fulham and i think stoke have all pulled out of reserve games.

[Shaggy]

This game was a great wake up call for the mediocrity floating around our Academy. Our reserves in particular were getting too comfortable in an easier reserves league last season. Now, against classier oppos, the pretensions of Amoo, Ince and Ecclestone in particular are being shattered.

If those three need a lesson on how to improve their game instead of the quality of their ear studs, they need to watch and practice like Shelvey, Suso and Pacheco.

The latter 3 will make it for us thankfully. The former 3 will eventually be sold for some good money to keep the Academy going.

Agree with all of that. The three you highlighted aren't good enough IMO. Amoo needs more in his locker than just raw pace. Eccleston just isn't good enough at all and I'd be surprised if Ince made it too.

Scary how much better they passed the ball than we did. Better movement, much more fluid.

Pacheco should never be playing CM in a 2.

[RedReet]

at Red G.

[The Birdman]

Agree with all of that. The three you highlighted aren't good enough IMO. Amoo needs more in his locker than just raw pace. Eccleston just isn't good enough at all and I'd be surprised if Ince made it too.

Scary how much better they passed the ball than we did. Better movement, much more fluid.

Pacheco should never be playing CM in a 2.

Why not? who cares about the result. I think it's brilliant they are playing against better sides out of the side yesterday the sensible fans would say that Wilson, Shelvey, Suso and Pacheco have a chance but lets be brutally honest here as neat and tidy as Pacheco looks when he gets his chance in the first team his cameo sub appearances carry more threat than when he starts.
In my opinion playing him wide in a reserve game isn't really going to aid his development.

The one for me is Shelvey, if he continues to improve and progress then with all the chatter around Lucas maybe going in January he could jump in and be the one to come through first.

[Shaggy]

I just don't think he's an orthodox CM. Not at all. I would've played him off the no.9, given the lad a free role. Suso had that position and to me he looks more capable of playing CM in a 2 than Pacheco.

If it's all to aid his development, toughen him up etc then fine....but he's no central midfielder.