BOLO NAMED IN RESERVE SIDE TO PLAY UNITED
Bolo Zenden will step up his comeback from injury tonight when he lines up for the reserves against Manchester United at Hyde United FC (kick-off 7pm).
The Dutch midfieler has not tasted competitive action since injuring his knee against Manchester City in November.
He was an unused substitute at Upton Park on Tuesday and will be hoping to put himself in the frame for Saturday's Merseyside derby.
Gabriel Paletta, Lee Peltier, Nabil El Zhar and Danny Guthrie also figure for Gary Ablett's side.
Team in full...
1. David Martin
2. Stephen Darby
3. Robbie Threlfall
4. Miki Roque
5. Gabriel Paletta
6. Lee Peltier
7. Ryan Flynn
8. Boudewijn Zenden
9. Craig Lindfield
10. Nabil El Zhar
11. Danny Guthrie (Captain)
Substitutes:-
12. Jack Hobbs
13. David Roberts
14. Godwin Antwi
15. Jay Spearing
16. Michael Burns
Bolo Zenden made a successful return to action after injury when he played 45 minutes in the reserves goalless draw with Manchester United at Hyde United FC's Ewen Fields.
The Dutch international played his first game since he injured his knee against Manchester City back in November. Reds reserve team boss Gary Ablett also welcomed Jack Hobbs back to action when he replaced Zenden for the second half. The defender has missed most of the season so far with an ankle injury. Hobbs acquitted himself well in a holding midfield role and passed the ball well.
Ablett fielded a young team including four of the Youth Cup heroes who helped the Reds reach the quarter-finals last week in the form of Stephen Darby, Robbie Threlfall, Ryan Flynn and Craig Lindfield, while Jay Spearing and Michael Burns were on the bench.
Manchester United fielded a strong line-up including Alan Smith, Darren Fletcher, Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown and Chinese international Dong.
Ablett will take a lot of positives from the game as his young team more than matched their more experienced United counter parts and with a little more luck might have taken all three points. In truth the game was hardly a classic but Liverpool competed very well.
In a fairly low key first half Liverpool twice came close to breaking the deadlock. On 40 minutes Lindfield was unfortunate to see his superb curled drive from the left side of the penalty area superbly saved by Tom Heaton. Then Moroccan Nabil El Zhar hit a rasping drive just over the bar.
Liverpool were excellent at the back and Godwin Antwi and Miki Roque were their usual solid as a rock selves. Indeed Roque made one fantastic block tackle to deny Fletcher.
In the second half Liverpool continued to press and Lindfield again was unlucky when he saw his effort from a tight angle pushed onto the post by substitute keeper Lee Crockett.
United almost won the game five minutes from time when Jamie Mullan failed to hit the target after a good cross from Smith then Dong hit the post from close range. Then in stoppage time Danny Guthrie went close for Liverpool after a late tackle denied him a clear run through on goal.
Manchester United Reserves: Heaton (Crockett 45), Lee, Lea, Fletcher (Burns 45), Silvestre, Brown, Mullan, Eagles, Smith, Dong, Evans (Barnes 60).
Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Threlfall, Roque, Antwi, Peltier, Flynn, Zenden (Hobbs 45), Lindfield, El Zhar (Burns 88), Guthrie. Subs not used: Roberts, Spearing.
Referee: C Pawson
An update on the reserves.
Liverpool 2 - 0 Wigan
A dramatic impact from substitute Besian Idrizaj saw him score twice to give Liverpool Reserves a deserved 2-0 victory over a strong Wigan Athletic side at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night.
The former Austrian young player of the year had only been on the field a matter of minutes when he scored with his first touch. On as a 71st minute substitute for Jordy Brouwer, Idrizaj smashed the ball into the net from close range after Craig Lindfield had flicked the ball on. It was a sweet moment for 'Bez' after he was sent-off for two bookable offences in last week's defeat at Middlesbrough.
Idrizaj was then unlucky to hit the post after a great run before he added a second goal 10 minutes from time with a fierce header from a corner. The forward has struggled for consistency at times this season but these two goals will have boosted his confidence.
Reds' reserve team manager Gary Ablett fielded the likes of January recruits Emiliano Insua, Ronald Huth, Brouwer and goalkeeper Daniele Padelli. Brouwer partnered youth team striker Lindfield in attack.
Wigan fielded an experienced line-up featuring the likes of club captain Arjan De Zeeuw, Paul Scharner, Andreas Johansson, Adreas Granqvist and striker Julius Aghahowa.
Ablett's side showed great enthusiasm and determination and there were many plus points to take from the game.
The away side started the brighter but despite their superior possession they couldn't break down the Liverpool defence marshalled superbly by the outstanding Jack Hobbs and Ronald Huth. Hobbs was playing his first game of the season in his preferred position of centre half and he made some excellent interceptions.
Liverpool, inspired by midfield workhorse and youth team captain Jay Spearing, began to get back into the match and Moroccan Nabil El Zhar was always threatening. He was so unlucky not to open the scoring after 20 minutes when he turned a defender inside out but was denied by a fine save from Russell Saunders.
El Zhar also went close after 31 minutes when he fired a fierce shot just wide and Craig Lindfield suffered a similar fate with a great strike six minutes later.
Liverpool always looked the more threatening in the second half and Idrizaj turned out to be the super sub on this occasion with his two goals to give Ablett's team the three points.
Liverpool Reserves: Padelli, Darby, Insua, Hobbs, Huth, Spearing (Barnett 88), Anderson, Flynn, Lindfield, Brouwer (Idrizaj 71), El Zhar (Burns 82). Subs' unused: Roberts (GK), Parsonage.
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