Liverpool under-21s recorded a victory in their opening Premier League International Cup fixture against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday evening.
With Jurgen Klopp’s side in Carabao Cup action at Anfield, a number of Barry Letwas’ regular playing squad including Bobby Clark and Melkamu Frauendorf were handed opportunities to impress on the big stage. This resulted in Francis Gyimah, Ranel Young, Tommy Pilling and Trent Kone-Doherty all being afforded first starts at under-21s level.
Despite fielding somewhat of a makeshift side, it didn’t take long for Lewtas’ group to take the lead. After successfully regaining possession within the final third, a cutback from Young was met by Lewis Koumas, who picked out the top left corner with a venomous effort from the edge of the penalty box just four minutes into the game.
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Two minutes later and Liverpool were knocking on the door once again, Koumas firing over from close range having been the desired target of a Mateusz Musialowski set-piece.
Dinamo Zagreb had largely been bystanders up until this point, with Viktor Kanizaj's tame effort straight at Fabian Mrozek epitomising the visitors’ lack of attacking creativity. The Croatian outfit came no closer to an equaliser when captain Marko Soldo blazed over with a wayward effort moments later.
A high line being utilised by Zagreb was proving effective at preventing the Reds from playing between the lines, though Musialowski managed to find space on the left wing when seeing his left-footed drive kept out by goalkeeper Dorian Klarin.
One final chance before the break arose when James Norris, alert to the overlapping run of Koumas, picked out the Reds’ difference-maker who could only fire into the side-netting.
Looking to make up for a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Zagreb were quick out the blocks after the interval as Zvonimir Katalinic shot wide, followed by Kanizaj looking to catch Mrozek out with a lob from range.
Tom Hill was introduced on the hour mark for Liverpool and immediately looked to cause danger when his dangerous ball into the box was beaten out of harm's way by Klarin. The midfielder later saw a shot drift over the top of the bar as Lewtas' side looked to extend their slender lead.
The crucial second-half moment arrived when Kone-Doherty, swarmed by opposition players inside the area, managed to engineer enough space to find the bottom right corner with a precise finish. Looking to preserve their two-goal advantage, Jay Spearing was summoned from the substitutes bench to add experience to the midfield department.
One final chance came the way of Kone-Doherty in the dying embers of the contest, with the 16-year-old seeing an effort tipped behind for a corner.
Liverpool XI: Mrozek, Miles, (Spearing 76’) , Stephenson, Jonas, Gyimah, Pilling, Norris, Young (Hill 60’), Koumas, Musialowski, Kone-Doherty.
Unused subs: Kelly, Danns, Samuels, Giblin.
Goals: Koumas 4’, Kane-Doherty 71’.
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