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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool midfielder makes comeback after five months out from injury as youngsters end season on high

James McConnell stepped off the bench to ensure Liverpool a winning end to their Premier League 2 campaign.

McConnell struck on the hour with his first goal in the competition as the Reds under-21s earned a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The result was a third victory in succession for Barry Lewtas's side and secured second place in the table behind Manchester City.

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The game was also notable for the comeback of James Balagizi, who came off the bench for the closing stages having been absent since January with an injury that forced his early return from a season-long loan at Crawley Town.

Liverpool started well with both Max Woltman and Layton Stewart denied in the opening stages, with Stewart, Owen Beck and Dom Corness also having efforts before the break.

Stewart had another effort saved on the hour but, from the resultant corner, Liverpool went ahead with midfielder McConnell - a first-half replacement for Lee Jonas - headed home a cross from Corness.

Woltman, Stewart and Billy Koumetio had chances to make the game safe before Palace came close to equalising in injury time when Adler Nascimento shot wide.

LIVERPOOL U21s (4-3-3): Davies, Miles, Jonas (McConnell 30), Koumetio, Beck; Stephenson, Norris, Corness; Frauendorf (Hill 67), Stewart, Woltman (Balagizi 82). Subs: Hughes. BOOKING: Davies.

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