GOALKEEPER Chris Oldfield suffered a frustrating afternoon as Liverpool under-18s were beaten 2-0 at Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.
After an opening-day FA Premier Academy League victory over Crystal Palace last week Hugh McAuley’s side couldn’t build on that success.
Keeper Oldfield only lasted 15 minutes before being taken off due to a shoulder injury and replaced by Hakan Duyan. And in that time he suffered the indignity of playing a part in the home side taking the lead. He got into a mix-up with right-back Michael Scott and following a backpass the two collided to allow the Coventry attacker to score into an empty net.
While Liverpool dominated they didn’t create too many clear-cut openings and with seven minutes left Coventry doubled the lead on the counter-attack
A frustrated McAuley said: “We started the game off poorly with a goalkeeping error. That was disappointing, but for most of the match we dominated. But from our point of view we had a lot of possession and dominated without really opening them up.
“It was a disappointing result, but I was not unduly unhappy with the performance, just that we didn’t create.”
Liverpool will aim to bounce back quickly when they face Nottingham Forest at the Kirkby Academy this Saturday (kick-off 12pm).
McAuley said: “We are looking for a positive reaction.
“But the attitude has not been a problem with our lads. Saturday is another game against Forest and we move on. Hopefully we can learn from the mistakes we made against Coventry.
”It should be a good game against Forest because they are a good footballing team.”
Keeper Oldfield had an X-ray on his shoulder injury and it was clear, so he should return. Midfielder Adam Pepper missed the Coventry defeat, but Liverpool are hopeful he will be back. Left-back Shane O’Connor is out with a groin strain.
Midfielder Alex Kacaniklic will return after playing for Sweden’s youth side, while Astrit Adjarevic has been on trial with German side Stuttgart with a view to a move.
LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Oldfield (Duyan 15); Scott, Kennedy, Coady, Metcalf; Amoo, Cooper (Ellison 60), Roberts, Ince (Dalla Valle 60); Eccleston, Pourie. Subs: Wisdom.
