TRANSFER TARGET BEN IMPRESSES
January loan target Ben Woodburn scored a stunning goal in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Sunderland Under-23s at the Stadium of Light, writes Richard Mennear.
The stadium has proved an unhappy home for the first team over the past year and a second -half defensive collapse cost Elliott Dickman’s side dear.
Chris Coleman was at the stadium, 18-year-old Wales international Woodburn catching the eye.
The Reds led through Cameron Brannagan’s early penalty but Sunderland fought back and equalised via the head of Joel Asoro.
Three goals in the space of eight second half minutes left Liverpool with a comfortable victory, Woodburn’s 25-yard effort the pick of the bunch.
There was some encouraging news, Josh Maja played 89 minutes as he steps up his comeback from a knee injury in the Premier League 2 fixture.
Sunderland fell behind after five minutes. Ethan Robson bundled over Harry Wilson and Brannagan confidently scored past Mika.
Sunderland, playing a back five, went close to drawing level minutes later, Maja’s low effort deflected past the post for a corner.
Elliot Embleton, who made his debut for the first team as a sub against Wolves, produced a perfectly weighted pass for right-back Josh Robson 20 minutes in but his effort poor.
Woodburn produced a moment of magic 40 minutes in, his quick feet turning Brandon Taylor before dinking a delightful ball to the back post, Liverpool couldn’t capitalise though. A minute later, Sunderland levelled.
Denver Hume picked up a Maja cross on the left flank, steadied himself and produced a perfect cross back into the penalty area for Asoro to nod past Kamil Grabara from six-yards.
Liverpool started the second half with purpose, Wilson shooting over before Thomas Beadling showed good awareness to block another effort.
Sunderland looked comfortable against the league leaders but were made to pay for some sloppy Alex Storey defending on 74 minutes.
Under pressure from Rhian Brewster, Storey was bundled off the ball 30-yards from goal, the Liverpool forward showing good strength before an excellent finish past Mika.
Mika then produced an excellent stop to divert rightback Virtue’s low effort onto the upright but it mattered little as the defender stayed in the area, Sunderland failed to clear the danger and Virtue finished from close range to put Liverpool 3-1 up.
It was soon 4-1, Woodburn with a stunning 25-yard strike past Mika in the 82nd minute, Sunderland all at sea. Sunderland U23s (5-4-1): Mika, J Robson, Hume, Beadling, Taylor (Gamble, 62), Storey, Asoro, E Robson (Allan, 89), Maja (Bale, 89), Embleton, Greenwood. Subs: Brotherton, Talbot, Allan, Bale.