The Premier League champions saw off a side of U23 and U18 players in an ill-fated cup tie on Friday
This, quite frankly, was a game that should never have been played. A game between the Premier League leaders, the reigning champions, and a group of teenagers, pressed into action on primetime TV just so, despite everything, the show could somehow go on.
When all was said and done here, Liverpool were into the FA Cup fourth round. Safely through, despite a minor scare, after beating an Aston Villa side made up entirely of academy players, and managed by their U23s coach.
The Reds’ 4-1 victory may have ended a three-match winless run, but if this is ‘elite’ football in 2021, then questions must be asked. We learned nothing from this, except that Villa have some kids with some balls. Good on them.
Nobody from Anfield was celebrating at the final whistle, and you could understand why. So much for the magic of the cup.
“I am not going to pretend that this is a good news event,” said Christian Purslow, Villa’s chief executive – and that was before kick-off.
An outbreak of coronavirus meant Villa attacked the so-called ‘greatest cup competition in the world’ without any of their senior squad, manager Dean Smith or his first-team coaching staff.
In their place were a mix of U23 and U18 players, none of whom had previously featured in a senior squad. Most of them had, according to Purslow, “been dropped off by their parents” for the game. One, defender Jake Walker, had been recalled from a loan spell with Alvechurch, of the Southern League Premier Central, on Friday morning.
Fantastic for those kids, of course. And what an account they gave of themselves against some of the world’s best players. Mark Delaney’s side were level just before half-time, picking themselves up after conceding inside the first four minutes. They were overwhelmed after that, but they can be proud of their efforts. They were brilliant.
Jurgen Klopp had made few concessions despite the callow nature of his opponents. Liverpool fielded the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in their starting XI and brought Thiago Alcantara and Roberto Firmino, among others, off a star-studded bench. “We prepared for Villa’s first team,” Klopp said afterwards.
The result, of course, was never in doubt, even after Louie Barry had levelled for the home side before half-time. Liverpool had checked on the 17-year-old, who came through West Brom’s academy, a year ago when he was leaving Barcelona, and they will certainly have been impressed at how calmly he converted his first chance of the evening, having run behind Rhys Williams to reach Callum Rowe’s through-ball. He looks a player, and his post-match interview was probably the best thing about the entire evening. Read More
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