ANFIELD has revelled in supersubs down the years and on Saturday another helped Liverpool’s youth team come from behind to progress to the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
David Fairclough was most famed for it and a week after Joe Cole had rescued the first team with a late winner over Bolton, Kristjan Gauti Emilsson also came off the bench to fire two goals to give Rodolfo Borrell’s youngsters a 3-1 extra-time victory over Crystal Palace.
The big Icelandic forward made the difference following his introduction at half-time and captain Conor Coady sealed their place in the fifth round with a late penalty.
On the day former striking star Kenny Dalglish returned to the manager’s seat there was plenty of top attacking talent on show at Anfield.
But Emilsson proved the key performer in a hugely entertaining fourth-round clash.
Raheem Sterling and Spaniard Jesus ‘Suso’ Fernandez dazzled with their quick feet and substitutes Emilsson and Toni Brito E Silva played their part in a bright attacking display.
But a combination of dogged defending, at times slack finishing and over-elaboration in the box meant Liverpool had to wait until extra-time to confirm their superiority.
Liverpool’s exciting wide attackers Sterling and Suso were causing plenty of problems. Both were involved in much of the Reds’ best work and but for some good saves from Palace keeper Charlie Mann and some desperate defending from the visitors’ rearguard they would have opened the scoring.
Kristjan Adorjan and Adam Morgan also went close in the opening half-hour.
Borrell’s youngsters had dominated throughout but would have been disappointed not to have troubled Palace keeper Mann more despite being almost camped out in the final third.
Liverpool were made to play for their profligacy in front of goal.
Almost from their first real attack on 35 minutes Palace took the lead when Jake Caprice’s inviting low cross was turned in at the far post from close range by Ibra Sekajja.
Liverpool kept pressing but it wasn’t until the second half and the introduction of Emilsson that they finally drew level. The equaliser arrived nine minutes into the second half when substitute Emilsson fired into the roof of the net from six yards after collecting Jonathon Flanagan’s excellent cross.
Generally it was a similar story to the first half with Liverpool on the attack. Sterling saw another shot saved superbly by Mann and another substitute Toni Brito E Silva went close.
Emilsson and Silva were denied by Mann again but the latter could have sealed the tie minutes before the end of normal time. He burst clear but his shot was too close to the Palace keeper and from the rebound his second effort was also blocked.
In extra-time Liverpool were denied a penalty when Silva appeared to brought down in the area, then Stephen Sama headed wide from a Jack Robinson free-kick.
Mann twice saved from Emilsson. But the Icelandic forward had made a real impact from the bench and he headed home his and Liverpool’s second after an excellent run and cross from fellow sub Silva.
Palace substitute Rhys Williamson-Murrell fired wide before Liverpool made it 3-1 from the penalty spot through captain Coady after Sterling was brought down.
LIVERPOOL YOUTH: Belford, Flanagan, Sama, McGiveron, Robinson, Sterling. Coady, Roddan, Fernandez, Morgan (Emilsson 45), Adorjan (Brito E Silva 75). Subs: Smith, Stephens, Aylmer.
CRYSTAL PALACE YOUTH: Mann, Akuruka, Pringle, Inniss, Daniel, Williams (Daly 88), Sow, Wynter, Caprice, Sekajja, De Silva (Williamson-Murrell 88). Subs: Daly, Fitzsimons, Clarke, Dennis.
REFEREE: Simoen Lucas.
