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Liverpool’s Under-18s will face Leicester City in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup after a 1-0 win against Manchester United on Saturday.
Tyler Morton’s 10th goal of the season was enough for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side, who were forced to defend with their backs against the wall for the final 20 minutes after James Norris’s red card.
The winger received his marching orders for a wild challenge, but the visitors could hold out to see him in a sun-drenched Leigh Sports Village.
“We went to the next round and everyone is happy in that regard, but our performance on the ball was not anywhere near the level we would like,” manager Bridge-Wilkinson told ECHO after the game.
“Out of possession, I thought defensively we were outstanding. It was not the performance we wanted, but we are very happy to be in the next round.”
“As for the way we defended, especially when we were left with 10 men, I thought the guys were exceptional.
“Their willingness to work for everyone, to do a job for the team, to risk their bodies, without being silly and giving silly fouls, was really nice.”
Confident Musialowski Showing Promise
It may have been a low-key few weeks for Liverpool’s big names, but Mateusz Musialowski enjoyed it more than most.
The young Pole was one of 12 young men selected by Academy Director Alex Ingelthorpe and elite development coach Vitor Matos during the international break to train with Jurgen Klopp’s first team.
The exciting teenager was able to rub shoulders with the likes of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner, while also pitting his wits against current PFA Young Player of the Year, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“It’s a great opportunity and a great lesson,” he said of training with the Premier League champions. “I played against some of the best players in the world, so it was an incredible experience.
“This is definitely the place I want to be and I will do my best to stay in this place.”
Known as ‘Matty’ by those at the Academy, the 17-year-old has been causing a sensation of late with five goals in as many games heading into this one.
Despite being out of action for a year when he signed in August from SMS Lodz, the sympathetic teenager has enjoyed an excellent season at this level.
His trademark willingness to run on rival defenses, as evidenced by an impressive recent effort against Newcastle – a goal he claims was learned from studying Lionel Messi – was shown against United here.
“That was my typical goal in Poland,” he said, quite naturally from the labyrinthine race and finish. “For some, it can be difficult, but I find it easy when I do it on the field.”
Such a belief in your own ability will keep you in good stead as you move towards greater involvement in the Klopp harvest at the AXA Center.
An early dribble from the left saw him force a decent save from United goalkeeper Radek Vitek, while a good pirouette and a pass early in the second half put Liverpool on the front foot.
He believes that trust will not be an issue for Musialowski anytime soon.
Norris’s expulsion limited Musialowski’s ability to play his natural game in the second period, as the visitors were forced to go with their backs to the wall for the red card.
Cramp, picked up in the final stages, saw the Bridge-Wilkinson U18 boss pull out his winger in form, but there was enough here to suggest why the excitement around this player is so high in the Academy right now.
Billy the Kid progression continues
As has been the case for much of the season at the first team level, there was a focus on Liverpool’s centrals for this one.
Or, more specifically, Billy Koumetio, whose two weeks with Jurgen Klopp’s seniors during the international break was just his final season with the Premier League stars he’s becoming increasingly familiar with.
It has been a season to remember for a player Klopp fondly refers to as ‘Billy the Kid’, with his Liverpool debut in the Champions League meeting with Midtjylland in December.
Back in their natural surroundings here with the U-18s, the former Lyon defender was excellent alongside captain Jarell Quansah as they held United at bay after dropping 10 men in the second half.
It’s easy to see why Koumetio is so highly rated.
The imposing 18-year-old is a mountain man at this level and maintains his composure in possession with his trusty left foot.
Koumetio was noted for keeping the dangerous duo of Charlie McNeill and Joe Hugill silent throughout the game, which is no small feat given the latter’s six goals against the Reds this season that included four in a game at the U23 level.
A timely interception stopped a United attack in its own half in the first period and ended with Dominic Corness firing just wide of the hosts’ goal.
A major loss to Shola Shoretire before the hour mark was crucial as United’s onslaught was just beginning to get underway.
And with the game in its final throes, Koumetio stayed strong, defending resolutely to help the 10 men to a great victory.
“Jarell and Billy in center back were fantastic clearing a lot of crosses and corners that went into the area,” Bridge-Wilkinson said after the game.
“They did exactly what you would like your two centers to do at the time of the game.
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“They were dominant in the area, they blocked, they won tackles and they defended higher up the field at other times in the game, so today they were very, very good.”
Liverpool may have suffered a terrible fate with their superior center-backs this period, with season-ending injuries to Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez, but they are not ruling out a more prominent role next year for him. ‘Billy who is rapidly improving the boy’.
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