Liverpool U21s 1-1 West Ham U21s: Match Report & Barry Lewtas | OneFootball

By Dan Clubbe

It was yet more frustration as the seemingly unluckiest football team in the world right now found a way to draw 1-1 with West Ham United Under 21s on Sunday afternoon at the Liverpool Academy in Kirkby.

The Reds were able to field another strong side with Trey Nyoni, Amara Nallo and James McConnell all included from the start as Barry Lewtas’ charges looked to end the season in strong fashion against a West Ham team that sat 2nd in Premier League 2.

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It was more of the same for Liverpool’s Under 21s as, despite the possession and territory stacked up in their favour, the goals refused to come on a gloriously sunny afternoon on Merseyside.

Nyoni looked to test the Hammers’ goalkeeper on numerous occasions, thwarted by the stopper himself plus the sheer volume of bodies in the box as the hosts piled on early pressure.

Lewtas was forced into an early change as McConnell went off having earlier received treatment, unable to continue despite carrying on for 15 minutes post-knock.

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Whilst the second half continued in the same fashion as the first, Liverpool injected yet more dynamism into the side when Rio Ngumoha came from the bench, however, it was West Ham who took the lead when Isaac Mabaya’s backpass went awry and the scrambling Harvey Davies couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line.

Young striker Keyrol Figueroa looked to provide the potency as a focal point up top and it nearly worked immediately as the USA youngster charged down a clearance, the ball looping over the ‘keeper and almost certainly over the line, albeit the officials saw it differently.

With time running out and another bewildering defeat on the cards, Kieran Morrison delivered a wonderful free-kick into the box which was diverted in by Hammers’ midfielder Lewis Orford. There was no time for a winner as the down to ten-men Londoners hung on and Liverpool were once again left wondering what might’ve been.

Barry Lewtas

On the performance: “I thought we were excellent first half, dominant against a really good team who have won six on the bounce. I thought we played really well. Second half the game levelled up, I wonder if we got a bit nervous because goals have been hard to come by. We had one that looked like crossed the line comfortably, it was nearly in the building, we were always a threat from set plays, Kieran Morrison’s delivery was brilliant.”

On how to improve in front of goal: “We know where we’re lacking. We’re a good footballing team. At the minute we’re just finding it hard to get the ball over the line. It’s a good experience for the boys, I’ve just spoken to the boys, we’ve just got to keep believing. We’ve shown that we’re a match for anyone. I thought out of possession today was our best performance, we pressed well, overall a good performance.”

On James McConnell: “He took an accidental kick around the eye, I’ve got to give credit to Lee Jonas who played with a black eye, he could only see out of one so when you have one player like that then you lose a central midfielder who has another eye shut you are starting to think your luck is out. He’ll be okay, his eye swelled a bit and we couldn’t quite get to the half so we had to make a decision but he’ll be fine.”