Liverpool’s youngsters continue to carry the club’s flag in Europe for the season, travelling to Molde in hopes of getting their first points of the inaugural NextGen Series after a disappointing opener. The young Reds started well but failed to get on the scoresheet after periods of sustained pressure and chances created against Sporting Club, and the visitors converted two first-half chances en route to an impressive 3-0 victory.
Tonight’s opponents experienced much of their success late in the 3-1 win over Wolfsburg—two injury time goals sealed the result after the two sides traded goals earlier in the second half to see the match leveled at 1-1. As with many of the opponents in the competition, information beyond the who’s and what’s is difficult to come by; your best bet is the official NextGen Series club page, which fills us in that three of the academy’s players (Krister Wemberg, Magnus Stamnestrø and Simon Markeng) have made appearances for the first team, and includes the following from Academy Director Arve Lervik:
“We are a small club in the tournament, relying on local players, operating a long-term effort to develop them onto the next level. Nevertheless we believe that we have the ability to challenge the teams we are meeting.”
Also worth noting that Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær started with the club and has returned to take the helm of the senior squad, who’s currently atop the Tippeligaen after finishing eleventh last season. That’s not really insight for tonight, but you know, worthless knowledge and everything.
We’re much more well-versed on Liverpool’s squad—last time out saw a very strong Liverpool eleven, with familiar names Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson, Conor Coady, Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling, and Adam Morgan getting the nod. Wisdom made the trip north after making his debut for the U21s, and we can piece together a good chunk of the squad based on notes from Steve Hunter’s traveling blog on the Kop—Sterling, Toni Silva, Tyrell Bedford, and Krisztian Adjorjan all pop up, and you’d expect more than a few of the names from last match to feature again. I’d doubt if Shelvey made the trip with Wisdom; they both played the first half in the 4-1 win over Israel on Monday, but the departure of Raul Meireles and fitness concerns for Charlie Adam might see the young midfielder back in the mix for the senior squad.
As you’d expect at this level, one of the biggest challenges for Borrell’s squad will be finding consistency and converting chances. The result against Sporting at Anfield was disappointing, but the performance had more than a few glimpses of promise scattered throughout. For those involved it’s likely a hollow mantra, but every match in the competition is less about the result and more about development. Even if that means Damien Comolli following your every move with his toothy grin and piercing eyes.
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