Report: Brookwell strikes as U18s beat Derby County
Niall Brookwell scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool U18s clinched another important three points with a 1-0 win over Derby County at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.
The goal came in the opening half, the youngster finding the net from a well-worked set-piece.
Reflecting on a vital win, U18s boss Steven Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was a good win for us and we had to work hard for the three points.
"Rhys Williams and Tom Clayton defended really well for us and we had Caoimhin Kelleher in goal who was superb. Caoimhin did all the basics well and he was certainly a help to us.
"Niall did well to get his goal when he was the quickest to react from a set-piece and to be fair to him he has earned the shirt. He has done really well and I’m pleased with him. He competes, he will run through a wall for you and he uses the ball intelligently.
"I am just a bit concerned about the level of quality because we never passed the ball well enough and created enough, but I’m really pleased with the result because the lads dug in and competed really well.
"For myself and the staff we realised pretty quickly that, with the group of players we have had in the last couple of games, it doesn’t really suit us to go and press the ball high up, so we are sort of sitting off teams a little bit.
"When we do win the ball then we try and break and spring forward and surprise teams, but with the youngsters we have in our squad we haven’t really got the energy and power yet to go and press teams for the full 90 minutes, so we want to reserve energy and be difficult to play against.
"The kids have carried out the gameplans really well to be fair to them and it will be a great learning experience for them.”
Liverpool U18s: Kelleher, Larouci, Boyes (Savage, 80), Hunter (Walls, 45), R Williams, Clayton, Sharif (Cain, 70), Dixon-Bonner, McAuley, Bearne, Brookwell.
Subs not used: Jaros, O’Rourke.