Young Reds slip to Baggies defeat
Liverpool U21s were unfortunate to slip to a 4-2 defeat against an experienced West Brom side at the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Inglethorpe's team went ahead in the game through Joao Carlos Teixeira; however, they were hit by three goals in quick succession as the Baggies raced into a 3-1 lead.
Cameron Brannagan pulled one back for the visitors before half-time - and after the interval the Reds fashioned a host of good chances to draw level.
However, in the 85th minute, local lad Kemar Roofe kept his calm to score from the penalty spot and seal the win after Rafael Paez committed a foul in the box.
West Brom looked the more likely to score throughout the opening exchanges, with Scottish international Graham Dorrans squandering a couple of good early shooting chances.
But Liverpool grabbed the first when Teixeira's effort from range proved too hot to handle for Luke Daniels in the Baggies goal.
Michael Ngoo found his teammate 30 yards out and the Portuguese starlet took a couple of touches, shifted the ball onto his right foot and hammered at goal, where it bobbled in front of Daniels and spilled into the net behind.
West Brom hit back through Matej Vydra. Skipper George Thorne watched the striker ghost in between Lloyd Jones and Paez and clipped a perfectly weighted pass into his path. Vydra sped away and nicked the ball from Danny Ward before tapping home into an empty net.
Zoltan Gera started for West Brom and when he fed Vydra moments later, the Czech striker sprung clear of the Reds' defence once more only to hit the post with his finish.
It was 2-1 to the home side when Adam Morgan was wrestled off the ball by Thorne and the Baggies captain surged forward before firing beyond Ward from the edge of the penalty area.
West Brom stole possession again shortly after; Vydra lined up a shot on the edge of the area and his effort deflected off Paez and spun into the path of Roofe, who curled home West Brom's third.
The Reds pulled a goal back when Morgan's free-kick was flicked on by Brannagan and the ball found its way through a wall of players and into the net to halve the deficit.
In the second half, substitute Alex Jones went close for the home side before Roofe's cross was missed by Ward and chaos ensued in the Liverpool penalty area until Paez and then Jones were able to scramble the ball to safety.
At the other end, Daniels atoned for his early mistake after fine work from Ibe set up Brannagan yards from goal; the Liverpool youngster struck on the half-volley and sent the ball low towards the corner, but the Baggies stopper flung himself in the way.
The Reds persevered in search of an equaliser and Brannagan went close with a header after Ryan McLaughlin picked him out. Then, in the 85th minute, Roofe converted from the penalty spot to seal a 4-2 win after Paez fouled Vydra.
Team: Ward, McLaughlin, Smith, Jones, Paez, Roddan (Sama), Morgan, Teixeira, Ngoo (Yesil), Brannagan, Ibe.