U21s recover to draw under lights
Liverpool's U21s came from a goal behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers under floodlights at the Kirkby Academy on Friday night.
The visitors threatened to break the deadlock first in the fifth minute, when Devarn Green collected a pass from the left flank at the edge of the penalty area and fired a rising effort against the upright.
Daniel Trickett-Smith was thwarted by a sliding tackle from Hugo Fernandez as he raced into the box, before Yusuf Mersin was required to produce a reflex punch to keep out a Hyuga Tanner drive.
On the quarter-hour, the woodwork was struck again and once more it was from an attempt by Rovers; from a wide position on the left, Joshua King released a delicate lob over Mersin and onto the post.
Trickett-Smith clipped wide when teed up by Villyan Bijev, but back came the away side and Green was denied only by the outstretched foot of the Reds' goalkeeper after skipping into space and blasting at goal.
Seemingly on a one-man mission to stop Blackburn, next Mersin powered away a ferocious hit by Tim Payne, although the pressure finally told with five minutes remaining in the opening period.
Mersin diverted an inswinging free-kick against the post but from the subsequent scramble, Bijev conceded a penalty. Up stepped Dean Rittenberg to rifle underneath the 'keeper for 1-0.
Alex Inglethorpe made a double change at the break - Cameron Brannagan and Jordan Rossiter entering the action - and the hosts needed just seven minutes to level matters.
Brad Smith raided alongside the left wing in trademark fashion and thrashed a dangerous cross into the Blackburn box which defender Ryan Edwards knocked beyond his own 'keeper and into the net.
Shortly before being substituted as he works towards full fitness, Ryan McLaughlin took control of an incisive pass from Rossiter, dribbled inside from the flank and worked David Raya with a rasping strike.
Will Beesley sent an attempt off target for the travellers when presented with an open goal, while Rossiter had a header disallowed in the final minute as both sides had to settle for the 1-1 scoreline.
U21s team: Mersin, McLaughlin (Baio), Smith, Paez, Jones, Chirivella (Brannagan), Bijev (Rossiter), Lussey, Dunn, Trickett-Smith, Peterson. Unused substitutes: Cleary, Crump.