Liverpool Under-18s came back down to earth after their cup heroics as they lost 1-0 at Wolves in the FA Premier Academy League.
It was the Reds’ first match since they beat Bolton 4-2 at Anfield to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Coach Hughie McAuley opted to ring the changes to give some of the younger members of his squad a chance to shine.
Consistent performers such as top scorer Lauri Dalla Valle and midfielders David Amoo and Thomas Ince were left on the bench.
The only goal came midway through the second half after some sloppy defending. The Reds created a couple of half chances but Alex Cooper and Nathan Eccleston failed to take them.
McAuley said: “We played three schoolboys and rotated the squad to give everybody a game.
“We rested some lads from the Youth Cup team. In terms of the result it didn’t work out, but all the lads who came in did OK and they will be better for the experience.
“It wasn’t a great game. It was very windy, the pitch was hard and the ball was all over the place.
“But it gave us an opportunity to look at a few lads and that is what we will do for the rest of the season.”
McAuley will be looking for a response when the Reds entertain Blackburn on Saturday (11am).
When the sides met in October the Reds were hammered 4-0.
“They gave us a hiding very early on in the season so it gives us a chance to redeem the situation and put the record straight if you like,” he added.
“But we are looking at the situation as regards who to play each week.
“We only have seven league games left. Those who didn’t have much action last week may come back in because they need to play.
“We need to prepare well for when the Youth Cup semi-final comes around in about another three weeks.”
Liverpool’s opponents in the semi-final will be either Birmingham City or Watford, who won 3-2 at Ipswich in the fifth round last weekend.
The other two-legged semi-final will see holders Manchester City take on six-time winners Arsenal.
James Ellison is still out with a back problem but Spanish centre-back Daniel Ayala should return before the Youth Cup tie.
LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Chamberlain, Wisdom, Coady, Kennedy, Buchtmann, Roberts, Kacaniklic (Amoo 60), Pepper (Dalla Valle 60), Clare, Eccleston, Cooper. Subs: Ince, Hakan Duyan.
It was the Reds’ first match since they beat Bolton 4-2 at Anfield to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Coach Hughie McAuley opted to ring the changes to give some of the younger members of his squad a chance to shine.
Consistent performers such as top scorer Lauri Dalla Valle and midfielders David Amoo and Thomas Ince were left on the bench.
The only goal came midway through the second half after some sloppy defending. The Reds created a couple of half chances but Alex Cooper and Nathan Eccleston failed to take them.
McAuley said: “We played three schoolboys and rotated the squad to give everybody a game.
“We rested some lads from the Youth Cup team. In terms of the result it didn’t work out, but all the lads who came in did OK and they will be better for the experience.
“It wasn’t a great game. It was very windy, the pitch was hard and the ball was all over the place.
“But it gave us an opportunity to look at a few lads and that is what we will do for the rest of the season.”
McAuley will be looking for a response when the Reds entertain Blackburn on Saturday (11am).
When the sides met in October the Reds were hammered 4-0.
“They gave us a hiding very early on in the season so it gives us a chance to redeem the situation and put the record straight if you like,” he added.
“But we are looking at the situation as regards who to play each week.
“We only have seven league games left. Those who didn’t have much action last week may come back in because they need to play.
“We need to prepare well for when the Youth Cup semi-final comes around in about another three weeks.”
Liverpool’s opponents in the semi-final will be either Birmingham City or Watford, who won 3-2 at Ipswich in the fifth round last weekend.
The other two-legged semi-final will see holders Manchester City take on six-time winners Arsenal.
James Ellison is still out with a back problem but Spanish centre-back Daniel Ayala should return before the Youth Cup tie.
LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Chamberlain, Wisdom, Coady, Kennedy, Buchtmann, Roberts, Kacaniklic (Amoo 60), Pepper (Dalla Valle 60), Clare, Eccleston, Cooper. Subs: Ince, Hakan Duyan.
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