First-Half Concessions Sink Liverpool

(H) University of Manchester (09/11/2022)

Report by Fred Stewart

The University of Liverpool first XI experience their second consecutive loss under the floodlights at the hands of a tough University of Manchester side. Despite dominating large portions of the game, the Blues were unable to capitalise – with Manchester’s clinical finishing ultimately being the deciding factor.

             

This result comes two-weeks removed from Northumbria University leaving Wyncote with three points.  A cancellation of last weeks fixture away to Newcastle University allowed Liverpool an extension of the recovery period, with manager Jack Edwards pushing for his team to take advantage. Encouraging the game to be played with intensity from the outset, he hoped his team could ‘sing off the same hymn sheet’ and come away with a victory.

              Unfortunately, Liverpool didn’t manage a fast start. Shortly after they got the game underway, they fell behind; a looping Manchester ball in following an early infringement caused problems – eventually colliding with the crossbar and falling to an unmarked opposition attacker, who headed home from close range.

      This early setback led to an improvement in Liverpool’s intensity on both sides of the ball. Winger Dan Lewis punctuated this, beginning to find space between the Manchester ranks and using his time on the ball to play some scintillating balls behind their back four. In the seventeenth minute, this phase of quality play reached its climax. Lewis beat his man down the left flank and slid it into striker Rio Gill, who was unlucky to see his sweeping strike glance off the Manchester upright.

These early opportunities continued to galvanise the home side, with extended periods of pressure leading to big chances. Lewis was once again the talismanic force behind this, with a swerving free kick from twenty-five yards beating everything but the post. Following this, the ball rebounded into a dangerous area, with the sharp Louis Jarvis pouncing on the loose ball. The subsequent shot was thwarted by some spectacular goal-line defending by Manchester’s central defender.

The latter stages of the half defined the story of the game. Merely minutes after a long period of Liverpool possession – which ended with centre-back Jonathan Timmins rattling the crossbar – Manchester doubled their lead. After a fluid phase of play, Manchester working the ball laterally to find their number ten, who did well to slot the ball into the side netting, 2-0. A concession on the stroke of half time is never welcomed, but the half time atmosphere suggested Liverpool were far from defeated.

As the second half commenced, it soon became apparent that there was a drop off in chances created. Manchester started the brighter of the two, displaying some nice counter attacking play. However, they soon abandoned this fast-paced brand of football, instead choosing to protect their lead. Liverpool did show some nice link-up play down the right-hand side, with full-back Lewis Brisdon able to get further forward and play some inviting crosses into the Manchester corridor. Unfortunately, Manchester defended well and didn’t allow any gilt-edged opportunities in the second half. In addition, both teams looked worn-down after such an action-packed first half, the lack of energy telling as the game drew to its conclusion.

A sub-optimal result for the first team will ramp up the pressure considerably. They now sit at the foot of the table, with Edwards commenting: “it has to be a better all-round performance over the ninety minutes. We’ve got to have more character and a bit more discipline without the ball, because that’s what’s losing us games.” The team will look to act on these comments, with the sore nature of this loss doubtlessly motivating them to revive their season.    

Goals: 

Manchester 2', 44'