BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE
MONDAY 25TH JANUARY, 2016
(7.30pm)
Played at Deva Stadium, Chester
LIVERPOOL 2(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)

Liverpool scorers:-
Kent, 13
Sinclair, 56

Referee:- Richard Wild
Assistants:- Andy Cawtherly & Richard Abson
Fourth official:- Liam Ockleshaw

Teams:-
Liverpool (4-2-3-1):- Bogdan; Virtue-Thick, Caulker, Enrique, Hart; Chirivella, Stewart; Ojo (sub Wilson, 89), Brannagan (Capt.), Kent (sub O’Hanlon, 84); Sinclair (sub Dunn, 77)

Subs not used:- Firth; Maguire

Booked:- Stewart (foul on Miller)

Sent off:- Stewart (second yellow – foul on Walkes)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Glover; Walker-Peters, Carter-Vickers (Capt.), Lesniak, Georgiou; Walkes, Amos; Townsend, Goddard (sub Paul, 83), J. Pritchard (sub Sonupe, 68); Miller (sub Maghoma, 77)

Subs not used:- Voss

Booked:- Amos (foul)

Youthful Spurs beaten by strong Liverpool side

Spurs’ young and depleted side faced an uphill task before kick-off against a Liverpool team featuring the maximum number of over-age players (Bogdan, Caulker, Enrique and Stewart), two of which were ex-Spurs men (Caulker and Stewart) at a cold and ever increasing windy Deva Stadium, Chester. The Spurs side included Andros Townsend, for whom it is now rumoured that Newcastle and the club have agreed a fee of £12 million. Perhaps that is why Andros had to be chided by coach Ugo Ehiogu to track back in the first five minutes! In fairness, Townsend applied himself fully thereafter, and had as much involvement as any other Spurs player.

The Spurs team were depleted because of the sale this week of Shaquile Coulthirst to Peterborough, and injury to his natural replacement at this level, Shayon Harrison. Ehiogu was reduced to playing Will Miller as a false number nine. The Spurs team were also lacking height and strength against their opponents.

There was an extra friendly handshake and hug between former team-mates Caulker and Townsend before the kick-off. Townsend had a couple of early runs, over-running the ball with his first effort, but reaching Miller after his second attempt. Miller was unable to get a shot on goal though.

Chirivella sent Kent away down the left with a good ball, before Kent got into the Spurs box and looked dangerous. However, Spurs cleared this threat. Liverpool had the upper hand early doors though and had already won one free kick outside the box before they were awarded another just outside the Spurs left-hand side of the penalty area. Kent took the kick and poor old Tom Glover fumbled at his near post allowing the ball to squeeze over the line.

Spurs settled down. The smaller midfield players tigerishly closed down and tackled winning a few turnovers. Goddard was looking good on the ball in tight areas in the middle. A nice move after 22 minutes ended with Goddard passing to Joe Pritchard on his left. Pritchard hit a wall pass to Goddard, before firing a shot on target, which was comfortable for Bogdan. Glover cleanly held a Sinclair effort at the other end.

After 26 minutes, we saw more good work by Pritchard, receiving from Georgiou down the left, cutting inside passing to Goddard, whose shot was blocked. Townsend then won a corner, but nothing came of that. Amos made a good midfield win and was fouled just outside the box. The Spurs free kick was taken right footed by Townsend and held by the keeper. Another Townsend free kick after 32 minutes was awarded after he was fouled by 30 year old Enrique. Townsend’s free kick from the left was headed out for another corner.

Spurs had gained in confidence and were seeing more of the ball. Townsend was demonstrating skills with both feet. Goddard was tricky in the middle. Spurs’ best chance yet came after 35 minutes, when Townsend crossed from the right and Miller fired over the bar. Georgiou made a good challenge on Ojo in a dangerous area outside the Spurs area.

The wind picked up after the break. The game was also being played with the distinct aroma of “country smells” nearby! Spurs hardly got out of their own half in the first phase of the second half, but generally kept the “reds” away from goal. Chirivella was provider again, this time to Jerome Sinclair, who was fouled by Walker-Peters just outside the box. The free kick by Kent was blocked. Liverpool went two up in the 56th minute. After a free kick, right back Virtue-Thick sent Ojo away down the right almost to the bye-line. His cross became a simple tap-in for Sinclair when perhaps Glover should have gathered the ball. Sinclair almost had another goal with what looked like an involuntary back-header. The attempt was held by Glover. Kent also hit a right footed shot wide across the goalmouth.

At last Spurs started to make some headway. Goddard and miller did well to get the ball to Andros on the left, but Enrique was much too strong for him near the bye-line. Joe Pritchard effectively passed to his opposite number (Kent) in a red shirt, allowing the winger a run at goal, and a shot which was parried then picked up by Glover. Brannagan went close soon after that too.

Spurs replaced Pritchard with Sonupe, who surprisingly took up station on the left, when he might have been more effective in the middle, where he has played in the past. Sonupe did make his presence felt though, getting on the end of a move started on the right by Walker-Peters and Townsend and worked across the middle by Miller and Goddard. Sonupe was closed down, but did win a corner.

Goddard was half muscled off the ball, weakening his intended pass, which ran to Sinclair, who hit a decent shot, saved by Glover. Former Spur Stewart (who recently played in Liverpool’s cup games against Exeter) was firstly booked for fouling Miller outside his area, then saw a second yellow within three minutes for tugging back Anton Walkes. Liverpool easily adjusted and saw out the game with 10 men. Maghoma had come on for Miller and gone into defence, with Lesniak moving into midfield, and Walkes moving up front. Spurs did get forward more, but hardly forced a shot on goal, with Georgiou’s powerful cross offering the biggest threat to Bogdan, who held the ball cleanly.

Perhaps Sonupe is being held for Thursday night’s International Cup game against Chelsea, with whom the U-21s shared a goal fest recently. The game will be played at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium.

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