Burnley U18’s V Liverpool U18’s.
Mrozek, Scanlon, Chambers, McLaughlin Miles, Mabaya, Pilling, Bajcetic, McConnel, Clark, Cannonier, Frauendorf.
Subs
Laffey, Hewitson, Davidson, Wellity, Lucky.
Result.
Burnley 0 Liverpool 5
Mabaya 39
Clark 67’
Pilling 81’
Frauendorf 83’
Cannonier 90+3
1 Like
Liverpool U18s finished off their 2021 in style with a dominant 5-0 victory over Burnley at the Barnfield Training Centre on Saturday.
The young Reds led through a fine Isaac Mabaya drive five minutes before the break, before Bobby Clark’s second 20 minutes into the second half eased any nerves and gave them the cushion their play deserved.
Melkamu Frauendorf was a threat all game and produced a double in the last 10 minutes, with Oakley Cannonier rounding off proceedings in injury time by finishing off a superb team move with his 15th league goal of the season.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s team started strongly with Mabaya and Frauendorf a regular thorn in the side for Burnley down the right.
Mabaya beat his full back and crossed well into the danger area but no-one made the run to meet it, before Frauendorf found Cannonier in the box with a good cross but the striker’s effort was too close to Charlie Casper in the Burnley goal.
Halfway through the period and Frauendorf almost started and finished the same move. He fed a good ball out to full-back Callum Scanlon on the left and made his way into the box to meet the cross but his effort was wide.
Stefan Bajcetic was dictating play from holding midfield and produced a fine ball out to Mabaya on the right wing. The cross was perfect for Cannonier but he was denied once again by Casper.
Scanlon dropped another cross on to the bar before the visitors finally broke the deadlock.
A great tackle in midfield sent the ball on to Frauendorf who turned and played in Mabaya, his powerful drive giving Casper no chance.
Liverpool continued their dominance in the second half and an early goalmouth scramble ended with Frauendorf’s shot being blocked near the line.
James McConnell and Clark both turned Frauendorf crosses past the post before the crucial second arrived on 66 minutes.
The impressive Bajcetic won a big tackle in midfield and played in Clark, who produced a superb finish into the corner.
It was one-way traffic and a question of how many goals for the visitors as they pressed forward for more.
Cannonier fine volley was saved by Casper before the ‘keeper almost presented the striker with a gift a few minutes later, rolling the ball straight to him before recovering to smother at his feet.
With 10 minutes left it was 3-0 after another almighty scramble near the Burnley goal.
Several efforts were blocked and Tommy Pilling hit the post before Frauendorf turned it home for a goal his display more than deserved.
Barely a minute later he had his second. Cannonier produced a fine assist, turning the ball back into the danger area for the Germany youth international to finish at the second attempt.
It somehow looked like Cannonier would be denied a goal but three minutes into stoppage time he arguably delivered the moment of the match.
A stunning team move saw a Frauendorf flick release Mabaya down the right and he centred for the prolific 17-year-old to score again.
Liverpool U18s: Mrozek, Mabaya, Miles, Chambers, Scanlon, Bajcetic (Laffey, 85), McConnell, Pilling, Frauendorf, Clark, Cannonier.
Unused substitutes: Hewitson, Davidson, Lucky
2 Likes
5 Likes
Swear he’s had about 3 new contracts since last season
That was a criminal decision to start Koumetio tonight, almost ruined the whole game/night (Gomez wasn’t great either, while we’re at it).
I know he’s young, but whenever he’s played for the first team either in friendlies or whatever, I didn’t feel good.
Leicester’s diamond 4 with two up top of Vardy and Daka (credit to Brendao) is way too much to handle for the kid right now.
Would have liked Quansah over Billy. Don’t really rate Billy, the mental side of the game isn’t there for him and I think it’s a long way off to be playing at such a level.
2 Likes
I feel bad for Koumetio, he’s been around the squad seemingly for ages but it’s not working out for him at all. He looked a bit leaner last night than before, in my opinion, but he’s still too slow off the mark and too languid on the ball. Rhys Williams had his mistakes last season but he looked twice the player Billy is at his best. The lad will have to take a step back and reassess if he’s to have a career at the highest level.
Meanwhile, I thought Bradley and Beck looked promising. I can see why Klopp took off Bradley but his attacking game looks nicely developed for a kid, there’s always purpose to his forward runs. Obviously, it’s his defensive game that will need smoothing out, though the team didn’t have much defensive balance in the first half with Gomez and Koumetio being off their game and Morton being on a yellow and not being quick enough to make himself available for passes, create triangles, help fullbacks out of trouble.
2 Likes
IMO Tyler Morton is very unlikely to make it here. He is well below Declan Rice at the same age, and Declan Rice even now is also unlikely to make it here.
Koumetio was a big problem last night but I must admit he wasn’t as bad as I thought he’d be. I’ve seen him have many worse games for the youth sides than that. A clear weakness in the side though, he’s nowhere near ready and shouldn’t be playing for us against opposition of that quality.
Thought the full backs looked good. Neco had a solid game when moving back, Bradley (bar the giveaway for the goal) was lively and Beck had a solid 10 minutes as well.
On a seperate note, I watched the highlights of the u18s 5-0 defeat of Burnley last night whilst looking for the highlights of the cup game. Isaac Mabaya looked unstoppable from right back. He’s been highly rated for years, probably another one we’ll see making his debut over the next year or two.
3 Likes
Any idea for who will be promoted to the u23s and who will be moved out on loan or permanent.
Clarkson recalled from Blackburn.
Strange one as we are the one who triggered the break clause so unless we have a plan for him in the squad or a permanent move lined up.
He played 300-odd minutes, don’t think the loan deal was working as expected.
Disappointing for the lad, but seeing how Blackburns season has gone so far, you can understand why they would be reluctant to give a kid heaps of gametime if he wasn’t already one of the top players
2 Likes
3 Likes
Also Mowbray spoke very highly of him. Said his skill set is comparable to Elliott at the same stage of development.
Re. Leighton Clarkson, Tony Mowbray only had good things to say, and sheds light on why he’s not had game time;
Leighton is going to go back to Liverpool. I’ve had lots of chats with Leighton and I want to put on record that this lad is an amazing footballer, what a talent.
You talk about Harvey Elliott, he’s got all those qualities, weight of pass, brilliant finishing, an amazing footballer who sees all the pictures, all the patterns.
Yet he’s come at a time when our team is functioning and he understands.
He knows football, it’s hurting him because he’s a Rovers fan and I haven’t been able to give him the game-time and he understands that because the team is winning and functioning.
Who would I be leaving out? Would I be leaving out Buckley, or Rothwell, or Travis? I don’t think so.
We moved to three at the back so it’s only really two central midfielders because Buckley plays like a false nine.
The opportunities became less and less and I felt for him because I said he needs to play football, with that talent he needs to play and express it, how fantastic a footballer he is.
I would assume Liverpool would look for another opportunity for him to go and play, at what level we’ll wait to see.
By my reading, it’s just unfortunate for Leighton, but likely still a good experience for him. It makes sense for his development to try and get more game time - maybe he goes elsewhere for the 2nd half of the season. Maybe he gets chucked in for Shrewsbury…
2 Likes
Nah, I don’t see him playing for us this season. Morton is the ideal candidate to start against Shrewsbury in that deepest midfield role. I guess we’ll just try to find a new place for Clarkson.
2 Likes
I feel he will be off with another loan deal during the January window.
1 Like