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If last week’s first EFL Trophy match was akin to a baptism of fire, the lesson learned from Liverpool’s second group match was that soccer can be cruel.
A goal in stoppage time saw a Reds under-21 team fall 3-2 at Tranmere Rovers in League Two on Tuesday night.
It was tough for Barry Lewtas’ side, who had dominated possession and showed clear signs of building on the experience of last week’s punishing 6-1 setback at Wigan Athletic.
Liverpool were worth it for the lead Jake Cain’s superb free kick gave them before former Everton striker James Vaughan came off the bench to score twice in two minutes, the second despite being in an obvious offside position.
The Reds looked ready for a penalty shootout when Luis Longstaff’s effort with seven minutes left crossed the line before being cleared.
But another ball overhead proved its downfall in the 90th minute when Stefan Payne scored with an angled shot from the far post.
Cain keeps ticking
Jake Cain could hardly believe what had happened.
Just eight yards and completely unmarked, the midfielder shone on what would have been the first game shortly before the break. Heads were in the hands of the entire Liverpool team.
But it says a lot about his mental strength and determination that it took Cain just five minutes of the second half to repair, launching a superb free throw from 25 yards into the top corner after Ben Woodburn was fouled. He had done something similar against Derby for the under-23s earlier in the month.
Cain, the 19-year-old who plays to the right of the front row here, continues to show consistent signs of leveling up this season, then outwitting Tranmere’s defense with a turn inside the box before playing a role in the equalizer for Luis Longstaff.
Longstaff now has two in as many games, and his selfless efforts for the team are now reaping well-deserved individual payoff.
Van den Berg makes the difference
The way Liverpool capitulated in the second half at Wigan last week caused a notable change at the heart of the defense.
Sepp van den Berg came in, perhaps hinting that the Dutchman would not be involved in the Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal on Thursday.
The 18-year-old hasn’t had a lot of real playing time so far this season, and the rust was evident in the early stages.
But he soon adapted and made two vital challenges to Tranmere sprinter Kaiyne Woolery in the first half.
(Image: Getty Images)
The air threat from the locals was met with confidence, and the defender was not discouraged when he took a heavy beating in the second half.
Alongside Van den Berg, Tom Clayton was calm, while left-back Owen Beck was an increasingly active presence. Goalkeeper Vit Jaros also deserves credit for a handful of solid saves and good handling.
At the other extreme, Joe Murphy, 39, was between the sticks in his second spell at Tranmere – the first time he saw him debut before any of Liverpool’s players were born.
Reds get stuck
Having been bullied in Wigan last week, there was no chance of a repeat in Prenton Park.
The young Reds stood their ground and were more than happy to mix it up in what turned out to be a fun local derby, Tranmere boss Michael Jackson made his dislike of some decisions clear.
Liverpool, however, could rightly point to a succession of misguided offside that ultimately contributed to their defeat.
It means the Reds have been eliminated ahead of their last group game in Port Vale, which is scheduled for November 10.
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By then Ben Woodburn and Liam Millar, both animated once again, are likely to be elsewhere, either on loan or having made a permanent match.
They won’t be the only ones, as the scouts were undoubtedly impressed by several young Reds.
The Liverpool U23s are now not in action again until their Premier League 2 visit to Brighton and Hove Albion on October 17.
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