Sunderland Reserves 2-1 Liverpool Reserves

One of our men up in the North East is taking in the Liverpool reserve games this season. Keep up to date with the games with our match reports.

Liverpool Reserves suffered their first league defeat in almost a year during a difficult night in Sunderland on Wednesday.

Reds winger, Nabil El Zhar, impressed throughout the 2-1 defeat, scoring the equaliser in a very tight and frustrating encounter in the hometown of the late, great Bob Paisley. Michael Chopra proved to be a nuisance all evening, scoring the opener for the hosts and crossing for Nathan Luscombe’s deserved late winner.

Liverpool outcast, Jermaine Pennant, started his first ‘competitive’ match of the season after failing to agree a move to Stoke last month. Similarly, Sunderland fielded strikers Michael Chopra and Anthony Stokes, two players who have fallen down the pecking order since the influx of new strikers in the summer.

Sunderland were on top for long periods of the match and took advantage of sloppy and lacklustre play from the Reds, taking the lead on the hour. Michael Chopra scored after Graham Kavanagh hit the post, but Liverpool levelled through a crisp El Zhar finish with just 15 minutes to go.

With just 7 minutes remaining, the Reds contributed to their own downfall once again. Some poor defending allowed Chopra to deliver a cross to the far post, where Luscombe was waiting to head the ball home.

Player Review

With several of the reserve team ‘stars’ returning after their pre-season exploits with the first team, how many are likely to feature in the League Cup match against Crewe Alexandra at Anfield on Tuesday?

Dean Bouzanis (GK): Made some good saves and looks a far better prospect than other reserve goalkeepers, including Peter Gulacsi and Martin Hansen. Not at fault for either of Sunderland’s goals.

Stephen Darby (RB): Unfussy, steady performance from the reserve captain as usual and either he or Phillip Degen should play at right back in the Crewe game next week.

Mikel San Jose Dominguez (CB): Restored to his preferred position following an indifferent performance at Middlesbrough. He was slightly rash in the tackle at times and has an outside chance of a squad place for the Carling Cup game.

Ronald Huth (CB): Not the best of games for the Paraguayan. Played far too many long balls and struggled, like most of the other Liverpool players, with the physical strength of Sunderland.

Emiliano Insua (LB): Usually one of the star performers in the reserves, Insua had a difficult night and his forward runs left the Reds wide open at the back, with both goals coming from his side. However, he remains a serious contender for an appearance in the League Cup.

Jermaine Pennant (RM): Pennant was largely ineffective and frustrating, traits he has unfortunately shown in first team games for the Reds over the past two seasons. Not the kind of performance that will make Benitez consider reinstating him in the first team. Sarcastic post-match comments belittled the reserves and this attitude certainly will not endear him to the fans.

Damien Plessis (CM): Dominated and outfought by Sunderland’s players. He may be a contender for the Crewe match.

Jay Spearing (CM): Sloppy performance from Liverpool’s all-action midfielder. Also in with a chance for the Crewe game.

SUB Ryan Flynn (CM): No involvement of any note. No real chance of making the squad for the Crewe game.

Nabil El Zhar (LM): After featuring three times in the first team already this season, the Moroccan international was in fine form, with an array of deft touches causing the hosts all kinds of problems. Completely outshone Pennant on the opposite flank and took his goal well. Every chance he will get a start in the League Cup next week.

David Ngog (ST): Lively, but far too often outnumbered. Far more impressive than his performance at Villa Park with the first team and was unlucky not to have converted a far-post volley. Should play against Crewe in some form.

Daniel Pacheco (ST): The young Spaniard found it difficult in a congested area of the pitch and was marked out of the game. Replaced by Flynn on the hour but could make League Cup squad.

SUB Jordy Brouwer (ST): Had a half-chance comfortably saved but will find it difficult to get a sustained run in the reserves, with competition from the likes of N’Gog, Pacheco and Nemeth.

Their next match is at Manchester City on October 7.

Written by Michael McGuinness