Aston Villa thrashed a young Liverpool team 5-0 to eliminate the Reds from the Carabao Cup. With Liverpool’s first team in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Championship, a young Reds team was unable to secure progression in the League Cup.
Harvey Elliott Shines in Liverpool Defeat
Defensive Horror Show
For the first time this season, something did go wrong for Liverpool. Up until this point, the Reds have cruised to the top of the Premier League and gone through their group in the Champions League.
But a young Liverpool team were unable to keep that momentum going. The youngest side in Liverpool’s history actually played quite well despite the scoreline – they had more shots than Villa and didn’t seem overawed in attack.
The Reds had a decent chance to open the scoring through Herbie Kane. The midfielder who, with 50 professional appearances, was the Red’s most experienced player, received the ball in the box and forced a good save from Villa’s keeper, Orjan Nyland.
But just as the youngsters were starting to get a foothold, the defensive horror show began. First, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher should have done better with midfielder Conor Hourihane’s free-kick for the opening goal. Then defender Morgan Boyes was desperately unlucky to see a cross cannon off him and deceive Kelleher for the second goal.
Defender Sepp van den Berg then saw his poor back pass intercepted by striker Jonathan Kodjia who calmly slotted past Kelleher. The Frenchman then compounded Liverpool’s first-half misery by converting a cross to make it 4-0.
The second half was not as eventful. Liverpool huffed and puffed, but were unable to find the net – a goal that their efforts would have merited. And in the last minute of the game, striker Wesley got on the end of a through ball to make it five.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, manager Jurgen Klopp will surely have seen some positives from the game, or will at least be told of them by Neil Critchley, who took charge of the team. His young side had nearly 60% of the ball and had more corners than their opponents which underlines their efforts in this contest.
They may have lost, but the young Reds didn’t shrink from the challenge.
Harvey Elliott Shows His Class
One positive that can be taken from this contest is the stellar play of 16-year-old Harvey Elliott. The winger was a constant thorn in Villa’s side and played with a maturity that didn’t reflect his tender age.
He was constantly picking holes with his impressive passing and was unlucky not to get an assist. Kane forced the Villa goalkeeper into an impressive save off of one of Elliot’s crosses.
Elliott’s danger was also emphasized by his dribbling as he skinned experienced full-back, Neil Taylor, on more than one occasion.
His performance means that Elliott will surely find his way onto the first plane to Qatar. A player of his quality could make an enormous difference as an impact sub in the Club World Cup.
Experience for Youngsters
For many youngsters, this game was a great opportunity. They will be surely hoping that their efforts were enough to impress Klopp.
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