Arthur Melo continued to build up his fitness as Liverpool suffered another slender defeat in the EFL Trophy.
The on-loan Brazilian midfielder, who came through a 90-minute outing for the under-21s at Leicester City on Saturday, played for 62 minutes as the Reds’ side were beaten 1-0 at League Two side Rochdale on Tuesday evening.
Arthur was replaced by Jay Spearing, the 33-year-old making his first competitive appearance for the Reds in more than a decade having returned to the club in the summer as an U18 coach.
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Barry Lewtas’s side ended the match with 10 men after centre-back Oludare Olufunwa was sent off for conceding a penalty that was brilliantly saved by Luke Hewitson.
Having gone down 2-1 in their first group game at Salford City three weeks ago, the Reds are now effectively playing for pride in their final match at Accrington Stanley next month.
With a host of U21 regulars missing through international duty, Liverpool were forced into a late change to their experimental line-up with Lewis Koumas replacing the ill Jake Cain on the right wing shortly before kick-off.
And the visitors were put under severe pressure during the opening stages with goalkeeper Hewitson smothering an effort from the unmarked Liam Kelly before the Rochdale midfielder sent a header over.
But once Liverpool settled, they began to enjoy greater possession with Arthur often pulling the strings as his experience and talent shone through. The Brazilian released both Koumas and James McConnell down the right flank but despite enjoying plenty of the ball, they were unable to fashion a clear-cut chance before the break.
Liverpool’s growing confidence meant Rochdale were increasingly limited to shots from range, with both Kelly and Ethan Brierley firing efforts harmlessly off target. The home side then grew reliant on set-pieces which Liverpool, with the height of centre-back Luca Stephenson and Oludare Olufunwa, dealt with reasonably well.
And Koumas was a lively presence at the other end, putting in one inviting cross that Arthur could only glance wide.
Hewitson saved well from Rayhaan Tulloch as Rochdale began to press for a winner in the final quarter with the impressive Stefan Bajcetic joining Arthur in being replaced shortly after the hour.
Layton Stewart almost caught Rochdale goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell out at his near post but Liverpool went behind with eight minutes remaining when substitute Tahvon Campbell raced on to a throughball by Sinclair and clipped over the onrushing Hewitson.
And moments later Olufunwa, earlier booked, was dismissed for upending Campbell in the area, although Hewitson then superbly saved Ian Henderson's spot kick with Campbell spooning the rebound well over.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Hewitson; McConnell, Stephenson, Olufunwa, Norris; Bajcetic (Pennington 62), Arthur (Spearing 62), Corness; Blair, Stewart, Koumas (Hayes-Green 87). Subs: Kelly, Gyimah. BOOKINGS: Olufunwa, Blair. SENDING-OFF: Olufunwa (second bookable offence).
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