By Mark Strickland
Liverpool U18s lost their Premier League Cup home semi-final 3-0 to Reading at The Academy in Kirby on Tuesday afternoon.
George Booth, Emmanuel Osho and Kiyan Coke Miles-Smith scored the three second-half goals for the visitors who will face West Ham United in the final.
The Reds failed to register an attempt on target, which will disappoint manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson as their progress in the competition was a welcome distraction from a difficult league campaign.
After 15 minutes, Josh Sonni-Lambie and Rio Ngumoha had the first two opportunities, both cutting inside the 18-yard area and both seeing their shots blocked.
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In the 33rd minute, Sonni-Lambie collected the ball midway through the attacking half and drove forward, but he dragged his effort low and wide.
Two minutes later, after two mis-clearances, Osho curled the ball with little backlift, and it came off the crossbar kindly for Reds goalkeeper Kornel Miscuir.
Booth put Reading in front on the hour mark via a deflection after Alvin Ayman tried a turn and Kareem Ahmed was not strong enough.
Osho doubled the visitors’ lead, finding the top corner, and Coke Miles-Smith won a penalty against Amara Nallo, which he rolled into the left corner.
Despite finishing the stronger The Reds struggled to carve out anything like a clear cut chance and in the end were comfortable beaten on a frustrating afternoon.
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Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
His assessment: “It was a tough game. In the second half, the game seemed to fall away from us and we were struggling a bit to get hold of the game again. First things first, fair play to Reading. I thought they thoroughly deserved the win. I thought they were the better team and created chances. We didn’t create an awful lot today. It was a disappointing second half, but we move forward.”
On conceding a second so soon after the first: “I don’t think anyone wants to go a goal down and then two quickly, so it’s just about recognising the moments in the game and recognising what you need to do. I think sometimes we create our own problems. I think when moments are going against you, you’ve got to find a way not to make mistakes that will cost you.”
On the lack of chances his team created: “I think in the first half we played slowly. I don’t think we got the moments on the sides of the pitch that we set out to achieve. I think the space was there, the moments were there for us to use, but we didn’t use them. We didn’t get there quick enough. I think sometimes when things go against you, it’s really tough for these young players and in today’s situation, conceding two quick goals knocked the wind out of us a little bit. It took us a while to get back into it and the third goal seals the deal, so it’s disappointing. We didn’t create anywhere near as much as we wanted and we’ve conceded three goals which is never good.”
On the performance of the team: “I think whichever team you put out, I think we go out there and everyone tries to win and perform. I don’t think we could single anybody out and say they didn’t do what we expected. I just don’t think it was a particularly great day all around.”
“I would imagine some of them are frustrated. I think the important thing is I think sometimes we have to recognise it’s not all about us as individuals, it’s about the team. And if the team are playing in the way that the left side allows the right side to play and vice versa, if the back allows the front to play, and the front presses and allows the back to press and come with them, then it makes the game a lot easier. I think today was a little bit fractious in places and a little bit off it, but that’s what happens when you put players back into groups that have not always been.”
On Alvin Ayman: “He is a wonderful boy. The first thing you’ve got to say is he is a great lad. He wants to learn. He wants to do well. He is full of energy and enthusiasm. And I think today he showed moments of what we know he can do. I think there is more to come from him. I think in time we will see the best version.”
On responding to the setbacks: “We’ll go through. We’ll watch the game back. We’ll debrief it with the players that are around. Ultimately, it’s about sometimes just rolling your sleeves up and doing the side of the game that perhaps isn’t the side of the game that you want to do. Sometimes you have to put your body on the line and you have to make blocks and headers and tackles, and that’s the side of the game that in a particular moment of the game you have to do. You have to do it well. We’ll look back. We’ll go through it. We’ll pick out parts where we know we can improve. We’ll use it as a development and learning moment. And hopefully, you’ll look at it and not do that again and then it’s a lesson learnt.”
On Carter Pinnington: “He won headers and blocks. I thought he and Nallo for a period of time looked quite comfortable and quite strong and then as the game went on it became a little bit more difficult. I thought he was quite pleasing through the game.”
