Rossiter fires U21s to win over Tottenham

After being an unused substitute for the first team on Tuesday in the Capital One Cup tie with Swansea City, the 17-year-old was back in the heart of the engine room for Michael Beale's charges.

After three straight defeats, the young Reds produced an excellent performance against a very talented Tottenham side.

Beale was able to call upon the services of Jordan Williams, who was also in the first-team squad again in midweek, while Brad Smith was back in the team following his return from a loan spell at Swindon Town and Kevin Stewart lined up against his former club.

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Ugo Ehiogu's side came into the game in a buoyant frame of mind having beaten Chelsea on Monday night and they were eager to restore pride after their 5-0 defeat by Liverpool on this very pitch last season.

The hosts started positively and were desperately unlucky not to score in the opening minute. A superb pass from Williams sent Jerome Sinclair running through on goal, but after the No.9 breezed past the centre-half his curled effort came back off the post.

Tottenham then drove forward and on five minutes Will Miller was unfortunate to see his hit from the edge of the box just clear the top of the bar.

On 12 minutes, confusion in the Tottenham defence from a corner almost led to the opening goal. Goalkeeper Tom Glover flapped at a cross, Dan Cleary hooked the ball back and, with the goal gaping, Harry Wilson missed his kick and the away side breathed a huge sigh of relief.

A minute later Glover showed his qualities as a shot-stopper when he palmed away a superb effort from Ryan Kent over the bar. The same player tried his luck again after 24 minutes when he sent a rasping 25-yard drive just wide.

They say third time can be lucky and that was certainly the case for Kent when he broke the deadlock with a brilliant free-kick on 27 minutes. He dispossessed Dominick Ball and set off on a brilliant run that saw him brought down just outside the box. After picking himself up, the No.10 fired a fine strike beyond the reach of Glover.

Three minutes later Tottenham missed a great chance. The pace of Emmanuel Sonupe took him clear down the right and after pulling the ball back, Miller, who was in a great position, could only slice his effort wide as he lost balance.

The away side began to pile on the pressure and Danny Ward had to be at his best to make a brilliant stop at point-blank range to keep out an effort from Daniel Akindayini.

Williams was having a brilliant match in midfield and his range of passing was a sight to behold. Another defence-splitting through ball put Wilson away and the Welsh international was unlucky to see his dinked shot beat Glover but not the post.

In what was becoming a superb end-to-end encounter, the Reds went close again after 36 minutes when a fierce drive from Rossiter from 25 yards out was well held by Glover.

Tottenham then came back at Liverpool and got the equaliser with a superbly crafted goal. Sonupe's cross from the right found Miller and although his initial cross was blocked, the No.11 wasn't to be denied as he fired home a low drive beyond the reach of Ward.

Ehiogu's charges started the second half strongly and a through ball set Akindayini clean through. Ward charged off his line, the No.9 dribbled past him and as he looked to knock the ball into the net, Cleary appeared from nowhere to divert the ball onto the post and away to safety.

Rossiter then sent Liverpool back into the lead after 52 minutes. Kent was the provider this time as he cut in from the left and pulled a great ball back for Rossiter to slot home right-footed into the net.

Seconds after coming off the bench, Daniel Trickett-Smith came so close to making it 3-1. A fantastic long-range pass from Rossiter picked out the overlapping Stewart down the right, and his cross saw Trickett-Smith's diving header land inches wide.

With Stewart and Lloyd Jones rock-solid figures at the back, Liverpool did well to withstand late Tottenham pressure as Beale's side got back to winning ways.

U21s team: Ward, Stewart, Maguire (Pelosi 61), Cleary (Brannagan 77), Jones, Rossiter, Wilson (Trickett-Smith 61), Williams, Sinclair, Kent, Smith. Unused substitutes: Vigouroux, Randall.