[lfc-news] Reserves v Man Utd report - Official Site

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/2_TolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Official LFC Website, 21 Oct 2004
MELLOR SCORES TWICE BUT RESERVES LOSE
Steve Hunter at Moss Lane

The prolific Neil Mellor took his tally to five goals in seven for the
reserves this season but it was the only positive in a poor Reds display as
Liverpool were hammered 5-2 by Manchester United.
Mellor was the only shining light in a really poor display as Manchester
United took Liverpool apart at Altrincham FC's Moss Lane. He scored twice
and was unlucky not to net a hat-trick with a diving header that went
inches wide. By all accounts he has a good chance of featuring for the
first team in next Tuesday's Carling Cup match at Millwall.

Hughie McAuley was disappointed with his team after the match and felt they
were not at the races defensively and goalkeeper Patrice Luzi had a very
poor match. The fifth goal summed the night up for Liverpool when Luzi let
in a tame 25-yard effort from United substitute Colin Heath that went
straight through his hands and into the net.

McAuley told Liverpoolfc.tv: "It was a disappointing night for us and
defensively it wasn't good enough. Patrice Luzi will not be happy with
himself and the fifth goal."

Both teams had young line-ups with Scottish international Darren Fletcher
the best known in the United line-up.

Hughie McAuley welcomed back captain John Welsh after injury but Richie
Partridge was still missing after a reacurrence of a knee problem.

Liverpool had the first chance of the night after two minutes when Mellor
found space just outside the United penalty area and curled a shot wide.

United then missed a great chance after nine minutes when the unmarked
Italian national Giuseppe Rossi headed over the bar, however the pressure
finally told with their opening goal in the 19th minute.

It was certainly a goal to savour as far as United are concerned when
Kieran Richardson scored a sensational solo goal. Zak Whitbread gave the
ball away cheaply and when the ball came to Richardson on the left flank
the winger cut inside and unleashed a superb drive that flew into the top
corner of the net.

Two minutes later it was 2-0. With the Liverpool defence suspect again
right back Phil Picken stormed past Whitbread down the right and from his
low cross Sylvan Ebanks-Blake chested home on the goal line.

Mellor pulled a goal back for Liverpool after 25 minutes when a deflected
effort fell to him and he made no mistake with a cool finish.

The problem was for Liverpool every time they entered the Reds half they
looked like scoring. Rossi shot inches wide before Richardson made it 3-1
with his second goal of the evening after 29 minutes. With the Liverpool
defence at sixes and sevens, they backed off and backed off and the ball
was played into Richardson's path who finished superbly with a low drive
into the corner of the net.

It could have been 5-1 or 6-1 before half time when Blake fired just wide
and Fletcher saw a speculative long range drive go just over the bar.

Liverpool's passing at times was poor and Mellor was left isolated up front
with no support, but it was to his credit that he worked hard and his hold
up play was good. Mark Smyth also worked hard but like Mellor received no
service.

The second half started exactly as the first half had ended with United
scoring again. A reckless challenge from Academy defender Danny O'Donnell
gave away a free-kick and Chris Eagles found the net from 30-yards out with
a magnificent effort for 4-1.

Richardson went close to a hat-trick just past the hour when he shot into
the side netting before Liverpool got another goal thanks to Mellor in the
72nd minute. The striker had already gone close with an effort that cleared
the bar before he won a penalty. He was alert to get on the end of a loose
ball and went around goalkeeper Tom Heaton who brought him down and a
penalty was given. The keeper received a yellow card and Mellor took the
kick himself sending Heaton the wrong way to make it 4-2. It's now five
goals in seven reserve games for the striker and that isn't bad when
youconsider he suffered a setback when he was injured pre-season and out
for six weeks.

Five minutes later Mellor came so close to a deserved hat-trick when his
diving header landed just wide after a great cross from John Welsh.

In the final minute Colin Heath made it 5-2 after a terrible error from
Patrice Luzi when he allowed a weak shot to slip through his hands and into
the net.

In stoppage time Liverpool could have scored again when Mellor did superbly
down the right and produced a low cross which went across the face of the
goal with Smyth unable to get a touch.

Overall it was a disappointing night and defensively Liverpool were way
below the level of what is expected.

Manchester United Reserves: Heaton, Picken, Lawrence, Pique, Spector,
Fletcher, Eagles (Heath 79), Jones, Ebanks-Blake, Rossi, Richardson (Poole 79).

Liverpool Reserves: Luzi, Peltier (James Smith 66), Whitbread, Raven,
O'Donnell, Potter, Mannix (Wilkie 68), Welsh, Mellor, Smyth, Foy. Subs
unused: Harrison, Guthrie, Danny Smith.

Referee: P Bramley.

Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Neil Mellor. Didn't deserve to be on the
losing side, worked his socks off and scored two goals, and unlucky not to
get a hat-trick.


Unsubscribe: lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
http://www.lfc-list.org.uk/

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lfc-news/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
lfc-news-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/