LIVERPOOL coach Rodolfo Borrell will be hoping his side learn the lessons from yesterday’s painful 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.
Despite leading 2-0 from two expertly-taken goals from Halewood striker Adam Morgan, the game was turned on its head just before the hour on a penalty decision in the visitor’s favour.
Referee David Coote awarded United a spot-kick and sent off Liverpool defender Stephen Sama for a professional foul. Despite Paul Pogba scoring the penalty, he too was sent off for unsporting behaviour.
After that United fought back for victory with Larnell Cole firing in the retaken penalty and two goals from Ravel Morrison securing a semi-final clash with Chelsea for the Old Trafford outfit.
Tyler Blackett and Liverpool skipper Conor Coady were also sent off for fighting late on. But Borrell didn’t use the red card drama as an excuse for the defeat. And the disappointed Spaniard is hoping his players can learn from the match.
He said: “It’s disappointing and frustrating to lose with such a big crowd here.
“We lost our composure when we received the red card and the penalty. We weren’t at the level as a team we needed to be straight after that.
“I don’t think we have to look for excuses. We have to be a bit more mature in these moments.
“We lost control and our shape. It hurts because it’s the Youth Cup, it’s at Anfield and you are winning 2-0 against Manchester United.
“The most important thing is that we must learn from this situation.”
It was Liverpool’s first defeat in 13 matches and after nine straight wins before yesterday, Borrell is hoping they can bounce back to that form in Saturday’s return to FA Premier Academy League action at Newcastle United.
He added: “Obviously they are young but they have to learn and learn quick if they want to make the step forward into our first team because they are not too far away.
“Liverpool is a club with a winning atmosphere.
“You need to create players who are mature in these situations. Winning games is part of creating a winning mentality.
“The lads need to understand they are at Liverpool and they need to bounce back as soon as possible.”
