Flanagan continues comeback with U21s cameo
Jon Flanagan today took another step on his road to recovery by playing 30 minutes in a 0-0 friendly draw for Liverpool U21s against Fleetwood Town at the Academy.
The defender has spent the last 19 months on the sidelines following a succession of knee injuries but has been back in training with the first team, as he looks to make his first appearance since the final game of the 2013-14 season.
He started at right-back for Michael Beale’s side, along with Jose Enrique on the opposite flank.
Also in the starting XI was summer signing Allan, who lined up behind striker Jerome Sinclair.
Flanagan put in a solid defensive display in his pre-arranged half-hour of action before being replaced by Kristof Polgar.
LFCTV GO subscribers can watch highlights of his run-out by clicking play on the video above.
The first half ended as a stalemate with both sides cancelling each other out and little attacking output being produced.
It was a similar story in the second half until Liverpool came closest after Tom Brewitt's close-range header from Harry Wilson's free-kick was well saved by the Fleetwood goalkeeper.
Will Marsh then saw his effort cleared off the line as the young Reds looked for a winner.
However, they were unable to break down the visitors’ wall and had to settle for the draw.
The U21s are next in action on January 11 when they travel to Southampton in the Barclays U21 Premier League.
First half: Fulton, Enrique, Brewitt, Whelan, Flanagan (Polgar), Virtue, Chirivella, Allan, Ejaria, Trickett-Smith, Sinclair.
Second half: Fulton, McLaughlin, Polgar, Brewitt, Enrique, Virtue, Phillips, Allan (Trickett-Smith), Wilson, Hart, Marsh.