Regardless of one other purpose from the fit-and-firing Layton Stewart, the Liverpool under-21s suffered a blow to their title hopes at Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea U21s 3-1 Liverpool U21s
Premier League 2, KingsmeadowMarch 11, 2023
Objectives: Fofana 18′, Burstow 43′, Elliott 90+4′; Stewart 11′
The younger Reds headed to Kingston upon Thames on a three-game unbeaten run that included back-to-back victories over Leicester (7-1) and Arsenal (1-0).
Supervisor Barry Lewtas was in a position to discipline a powerful facet, too, with Stewart making his first begin since his senior bow at Derby within the Carabao Cup in November, having recovered from harm.
It was Stewart who opened the scoring within the eleventh minute, rifling residence after a horrible error from Chelsea goalkeeper Lucas Bergstrom.
However sensible play from Chelsea and suspect marking from each Rhys Williams and Billy Koumetio allowed the hosts to equalise quickly after, with David Datro Fofana touching in from shut vary.
A significant intervention from Marcelo Pitaluga allowed Liverpool to counter as Dominic Corness launched Ben Doak, however the winger’s shiny burst was ultimately minimize out.
Chelsea made it 2-1 earlier than the break, with the facility of Fofana and a contact of luck permitting him to interrupt via three challenges and feed the fast Mason Burstow who completed nicely.
There have been possibilities for Liverpool within the second half, particularly for Bobby Clark whose try at diverting a Max Woltman cross was smothered by Bergstrom, however they have been minimize open on a variety of events, too.
The hosts focused a weak channel between Koumetio and left-back Owen Beck, with Burstow seeing a purpose dominated out for offside whereas Dion Rankine hit the publish, earlier than Ben Elliott fired within the third via Pitaluga’s poor tried save.
With defeat, Liverpool have been unable to shut the hole between them and league leaders Chelsea, who as a substitute opened it to 10 factors away from the third-placed Reds.
Stewart can at the very least cling to a constructive, nonetheless, along with his third purpose in as many video games since returning to the fold final month.
Liverpool U21s: Pitaluga; Stephenson, Williams, Koumetio, Beck; Corness, Clark (Frauendorf 65′), Norris (Miles 65′); Doak, Woltman (Olufunwa 88′), Stewart (Musialowski 65′)
Subs not used: Kelly
Subsequent match: Blackburn (A) – Premier League 2 – Saturday, March 18, 12pm (GMT)
