Conor Bradley, Owen Beck and Elijah Dixon-Bonner might have all featured for Liverpool’s first team against Preston North End on Wednesday night, but that didn’t spare them from Barry Lewtas’ wrath during against Derby County Under-23s on Saturday.
The young Reds ran out 3-1 winners thanks to second half goals from Billy Koumetio, Max Woltman and Dixon-Bonner, with Beck and Bradley setting up the first two efforts with stunning crosses.
But that came after a poor first half performance which had seen Jack Stretton scuff home the opener for the Rams, taking advantage of a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
And Lewtas has admitted he had to give out a few hugs after the final whistle following Liverpool ’s second half turnaround, having dished out a scathing team talk at half-time following a performance that fell below expectations.
“It wasn’t a complete 90 minutes but to be fair to the lads, to turn it around the way they did in the second half was positive,” he told the ECHO after the game.
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“The first half, fair play to Derby because they set up well and we’ve kind of just played into their hands. We passed backwards too often and allowed them to press. We caused our own problems and Derby set up well against us.
“Second half we talked about playing more in their half and playing forwards more, having energy and second half I thought we were really good.
“It’s probably the toughest team talk I’ve given. I’ve had to give a few hugs out after the game!
“We’ve got some good players and the level and expectation is high and we demand a little bit more from the players.
“I thought right from the goalkeeper through to Max Woltman as the nine, I thought we played with more intensity and more purpose, more aggression, played the game in their half, pressed better.
“Yeah, it wasn’t perfect but it was a good performance against a good team.”
Liverpool fans might be used to seeing Bradley and Beck playing at full-back, but the duo were stationed in a front three against Derby as injuries continue to limit Lewtas’ options.
And with them both claiming assists, the young Reds’ manager believes the change of role will be vital for their development going forward.
“I was hard on Conor at half-time,” Lewtas admitted. “He hit the near post man a few times in the first half but I know the quality he’s got from there and the standard of cross (for Woltman’s goal), it was a quality cross.
“At the minute, we’ve had a few injuries and we’ve had to change the squad over the last few games. That was the more natural fit today, with Jarrell moving out to right-back and Conor and Owen going up.
“For their development it is important to be the wide player and see what the demands are. When they are bawling and shouting at the wide players when they move back to full-back, they actually know what it’s like to live that and to press and to run.
“I thought they did it really well and Owen Beck also did it really well against Blackburn.”
And Lewtas reiterated that his players can’t let first team opportunities go to their heads and still have to perform when they turn out for the Under-23s.
“We’re in a really fortunate position where we have a manager who really does trust young players,” he said. “He gives them opportunities to train and he gives them opportunities at the right time to play as well.
“It’s a huge motivating factor for our players, but when they come back here, they have to perform too.
“Okay, it’s not Anfield or Preston where they played the other day, but they have to come back and perform and they’ve performed today and contributed to the win.”
