It’s not just Liverpool’s first team that have been badly stung by injuries this season, Barry Lewtas’ Under-21s have been heavily-depleted at times too.
That was certainly the case when they travelled to Man City on Sunday, eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat at the City Academy Stadium. The fact they could name only four substitutes on the bench, with one of them player-coach Jay Spearing and none of them attacking players summed it up.
Layton Stewart, Oakley Cannonier, Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Harvey Blair, James Balagizi, Tom Hill, and Lewis Koumas were all absent, while the young Reds were also without defenders Rhys Williams, Calvin Ramsay, Owen Beck, James Norris, and Isaac Mabaya. Throw in Stefan Bajcetic’s senior promotion, and Jarrell Quansah and Luke Chambers’ loan moves in January and their numbers are somewhat limited.
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As a result, Under-18s player Calum Scanlon was given his Under-21s debut at left-back, while Oludare Olufunwa made only his second Premier League 2 start since his summer move from Southampton.
But with leading goalscorer Stewart, Cannonier, and Doak in particular all sidelined, it was in attack where Lewtas’ side, without any back-up in reserve, was most makeshift. While the sight of Melkamu Frauendorf on the right is not uncommon, Max Woltman was stationed on the left as opposed to down the middle as he made his third league start since his loan with Doncaster Rovers was cut short.
Meanwhile, winger Mateusz Musialowski was turned to as the central striker. While it is not the first time either has played such a role for the Under-21s, the positioning was intriguing considering you would have perhaps expected them to have lined up the other way around.
Of course, we have grown used to such thoughts in the first team in recent weeks when greeted by the sight of £37m winger Cody Gakpo playing as Liverpool’s striker with £64m traditional number nine Darwin Nunez utilised on the left. But while both senior players are comfortably over 6ft, Musialowski and Woltman, lining up against a towering City defence, certainly are not.
That didn’t phase them of course, with the pair making their presence felt even in defeat.
Musialowski would drop deep on a number of occasions, as you would expect from a Liverpool false nine, as the Reds looked to make the most of his ability to turn defenders, carry the ball forward and take men on. The young Pole would have their first shot of the day, firing over first-time from Luca Stephenson’s cutback, before equalising with a well-placed header after connecting with the same creator’s cross.
A sight regular Under-21s onlookers are perhaps not used to seeing, Musialowski scoring a header after timing his run to perfection, but it was a welcome one as he scored his first Premier League 2 goal of the season. Yet as the game wore on, the 19-year-old found himself isolated and bullied by City’s defence on occasions.
Unable to compete physically, he would retaliate with a shove after one heavy-handed challenge from Jadel Katongo, earning both a telling off from referee Paul Marsden in the process.
Woltman, having spent half a season playing senior football in League Two with Doncaster, was better accustomed to such treatment. He’d nearly set up a second for Liverpool as Fraunendorf flicked on his cross at the near post, only to see the strike cleared off the line, while he’d repeatedly take on and beat defenders. However, a final ball was often lacking, perhaps demonstrating what he still needs to work on and why the 19-year-old’s temporary switch was cut short after a lack of game-time.
Yet maybe this is partly why both Musialowski and Woltman lined up in each other’s roles, to help bulk the Pole up and work on his physicality while aiding his fellow forward’s creative output in the final third. Whether such experiments continue when the likes of Stewart, Cannonier, and Doak return or were only initiated out of necessity, only time will tell.
Mixed bag for Billy
Max Woltman isn’t the only player back from loan who has been a regular for Liverpool Under-21s since returning, with Billy Koumetio again starting at centre-back after his time with Austria Vienna was cut short.
In truth, his outing against Man City was a mixed bag at the best and showed the 20-year-old at his rawest. He would survive two penalty appeals against him and would earn a warning from referee Marsden for one wild slide in his own area that only resulted in taking out team-mate Calum Scanlon as opposed to any opponent.
Meanwhile, his passing out from the back was at times erratic as he brought the ball forwards. At times, he was spraying it for fun and starting attacks. At others, he was just gifting it back to City and putting the Reds straight under pressure.
City’s opener came from his Oscar Bobb cutting inside him far too easily to play in Carlos Borges, before then running in behind the Frenchman to score the rebound.
Their second came as he failed in his efforts to play offside, the hosts got in behind and Borges hammered home with the centre-back still tracking back. As for the third, the move started after Koumetio lost possession in midfield.
In truth, not a performance he will look back on too fondly. Yet there were at least one moment of quality from the defender - a sliding tackle timed to perfection inside his own box to deny City a further shooting opportunity. Alas, it came late on with Liverpool already 3-1 down. It might have saved further blushes, but by then the damage had long since been done.
Classy Clark and Stephenson steps up
While Stefan Bajcetic might now be a constant presence in Jurgen Klopp’s first team, it’s a different story for Bobby Clark. The pair both made their debuts against Bournemouth back in August and were both handed maiden starts against Derby County in November.
Yet those two appearances remain Clark’s only outings for the club, despite impressing both in pre-season and the mid-season training camp in Dubai. In contrast, Bajcetic now boasts 12 appearances, has his first goal, and has started each of Liverpool’s last four goals heading into the Merseyside derby.
In truth, if some of the Reds’ senior midfielders hadn’t dropped off so spectacularly this season, Bajcetic wouldn’t be anywhere near Klopp’s starting XI. Instead, he’d be in the same boat as Clark, biding his time with the Under-21s. There are 10 senior midfielders in the squad beyond the young Spaniard, after all.
As a result, there is no shame in the former Newcastle man not making as emphatic a step up as his fellow young team-mate. In the mean-time, at youth level, he remains as classy as ever.
So cool and composed on the ball, he is a step ahead of everyone else. This was demonstrated against City when Liverpool got the youngster on the ball. It’s clear more senior recognition will follow in the future.
Yet, a fellow midfielder outshone him at The City Academy Stadium too, with Luca Stephenson shining in a more advanced number eight role.
Not afraid of the gritty side of the game, he was repeatedly leading the press, putting the hosts under pressure and winning the ball back. Meanwhile, he’d create a number of chances and it was his cross that set up the Liverpool goal.
Alongside Dominic Corness, he has made more appearances than anyone else for the Under-21s this season. Having started the season as a substitute, that ever-growing young Reds’ injury list has enabled him to make the very most of his opportunities to become first-choice.
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