LFC Reserves crash out of Next Gen Tournament

Liverpool reserves were well beaten by a supreme Ajax side at Langtree Park in St Helens, in the Next Gen Tournament Semi-Final.

Kick off was delayed as the brand new stadium was swamped with thousands more Liverpool supporters than were expected – with almost 10,000 making their way to cheer on the youngsters.

But they were outplayed – with the star of the tournament, Viktor Fischer, scoring a hat-trick, and captain Davy Klasen – who has played in the first team’s Champions League games – grabbing another two.

The reds went down to an early goal, but then had a glorious opportunity to level when Raheem Sterling was felled in the box.  Suso’s spot-kick was saved, and the keeper pulled off another fine save to stop Suso’s rebound.

Suso saw his penalty and rebound saved

Ajax were clinical in front of goal – and their superior experience showed on the night – but the tournament, in it’s inaugural year, has proved positive for Liverpool’s reserve side who will not normally be used to playing against such high calibre opponents.

Reserve boss Rodolfo Borrell said after the game:

“Personally for me it is a disaster.  It is the worst day of my life in sport.  They were too quick, if we had scored our penalty maybe it would have been a different story.  But they scored a second just before the break.

“I don’t think we deserved such a harsh defeat, but we were not at the same level.

“I think our lads are capable of the best, and capable of the worst.  And sometimes you cannot drop your focus.  We were performing well in the last couple of games and now we have lost momentum and will have to work really hard to get back.

“My worst day in my career by a mile.”

Team: Ward, McLaughlin, McGiveron, Sama, Wisdom, Coady, Sterling, Roddan (Morgan 60), Ngoo, Adorjan, Sterling.

Unused subs: Belford, Dunn, Ibe, Regan.