Chambers made for Reds
The importance of full-backs during the Jurgen Klopp era has long been evident. And there's little doubt Luke Chambers continues to thrive off the confidence of his first-team involvement championed by the Reds boss during pre-season.
The left-back's lung-busting runs have become a feature of the Academy teams and were a key influence in Liverpool successfully completing a second-half comeback against Tottenham to earn a draw having been 3-0 down at the break.
Chambers sparked the revival by notching his first goal at this level shortly after the interval, and played a major role in the build-up to the equaliser smashed home by substitute Harvey Blair.
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Throughout the game, the teenager was a willing runner down the flank, with his deliveries - often after linking up with Max Woltman - causing an overworked Tottenham rearguard continued problems.
Another player given a senior chance in the summer was Melkamu Frauendorf. But rather than slotting in as an emergency right-back as in pre-season, the 18-year-old was back in his more accustomed right midfield role.
And it was something of a mixed bag, Frauendorf was overall quiet but nevertheless close to turning in one Chambers cross at the near post having moments earlier been too high with a lob towards an open goal. His replacement Blair then showed how it is done.
Corness and Norris impress
With Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark on first-team duty, there was a chance for others to impress in midfield. And both Dom Corness and James Norris grasped the opportunity.
Corness, scrapping away at the base of the midfield three, was eye-catching throughout, both with his tenacity and use of possession. He was twice close to scoring, ghosting into the box second half and striking the far post having before the break smashed an outrageous 25-yard volley against the crossbar. Not for nothing has his cultured left foot earned him the nickname "The Wand".
Alongside Corness, the busy Norris was neat and tidy while popping up all over the pitch. No coincidence it was his pass that set up Blair to equalise.
Praise, too, must go to Luca Stephenson who, making his first start at U21 level, swapped his usual midfield role for a right-back berth and produced a typically reliable and resolute performance.
Defence learning
Liverpool U21s coach Barry Lewtas spoke after last weekend's win over Blackburn Rovers - and a first Premier League 2 clean sheet of the campaign - about how centre-back pairing Lee Jonas and Jarell Quansah are continuing to adjust to the higher age level.
"Sometimes it can be frustrating and we have to be patient with them," he said. "It is a step up and we are being brave and defending the way we want to defend, which is a bit different in fairness. You are going to get moments of indecision and we'll judge them at the end of the season. I don't want to judge the younger ones too early."
Those words carried increasing resonance five minutes into the game at Tottenham when Quansah was robbed of possession as the last line of defence to prompt the home side's opening goal from Romaine Mundle. The forward almost capitalised again first half but shot too high after a slack clearance from Quansah.
Shortly before half-time, it was Jonas whose error proved costly, his unwise pass sending Yago Santiago away to score his second goal in as many minutes.
Neither allowed their heads to drop with Jonas almost atoning with a goal shortly before the interval. But both discovered the learning curve can be particular steep at his level. They will take note.
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