Lucas and Sakho star as U21s win
Lucas and Mamadou Sakho made a successful return to action as Liverpool U21s beat West Ham United 2-0 at Grays Athletic FC on Friday night.
The Brazilian international played the full 90 minutes as he played his first game since the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on January 18, while French star Sakho enjoyed a 70 minute run out in his first outing since the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on December 29.
Joao Carlos Teixeira also played the full game as 19-year-old Scouser Jack Dunn was the hero on the night for Alex Inglethorpe's side with two goals.
West Ham started well and twice Elliott Lee, son of former Newcastle star Rob Lee, had two great chances when he was first denied by a brilliant stop from Yusuf Mersin and he then hit the post.
Dunn deflected home the opening goal in first half stoppage time when Kristoffer Peterson's effort struck him on the side and ended up in the net after Hammers stopper Raphael Speigel spilled the ball on his own goal line.
With Sakho winning every header and an imposing figure at the back and Lucas controlling the midfield alongside youngster Jordan Lussey Inglethorpe's side played some nice football at times.
A second goal duly arrived after 76 minutes when Dunn was on the mark again with a fantastic team goal.
Lussey's incisive pass found the outstanding Cameron Brannagan racing away down the left flank, and from his superb cross Dunn was in the right place to fire home.
Peterson had a late goal disallowed for offside after Dunn's scorching effort was only parried, but it is the return to action of Lucas and Sakho that will give Brendan Rodgers a massive boost.
Liverpool team: Mersin, Williams, Smith, Jones, Sakho (Paez 70), Lucas, Peterson, Lussey, Dunn, Brannagan, Teixeira. Unused subs: Firth, Rossiter, Maguire, Bijev.