Liverpool goalkeeper in bizarre red card incident as midfielder makes new statement
Liverpool overcame a bizarre red card for goalkeeper Harvey Davies to earn an impressive Premier League 2 victory at Arsenal. Amara Nallo, Tyler Morton and Ranel Young all scored as the Reds' under-21s won 3-0 at Meadow Park on Friday evening.
Davies was dismissed with 15 minutes remaining after receiving two yellow cards inside 10 seconds, the first for timewasting before he was given a second and subsequent red card for an apparent show of dissent towards referee Alan Dale.
The triumph continued a good start to the season for Barry Lewtas's side, who have won four of their opening five games in Premier League 2.
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Liverpool went ahead after only 12 minutes when a free-kick delivery from Morton caused consternation among the Arsenal back line and Nallo pounced from close range.
Davies made a good save from Arsenal full-back Nathan Butler-Oyedeji before Morton started and ended the move for Liverpool's second two minutes before the interval.
The midfielder, who featured for the first team two days earlier in the League Cup thumping of West Ham United, won the ball in his own half to prompt a counter-attack that saw him pick up the rebound after Young was hounded out and fire home a deflected shot.
Morton was again involved in the third goal on 57 minutes, with both he and Tom Hill pressuring the Arsenal defence into a mistake to send Young away to score.
After the dismissal of Davies, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand hit the post for Arsenal but the young Reds were able to hold on to their clean sheet.
Liverpool U21s are next in action on Sunday week when they travel to Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village in a Premier League 2 clash (kick-off 12pm).
LIVERPOOL U21s (4-3-3): Davies; Miles, Jonas, Nallo, Norris; Morton, Nyoni (Corness 83), Pilling (Davidson 83); Hill, Young (Misciur 78), Morrison (Pinnington 81). Sub: Laffey. BOOKING: Morton, Hill, Davies. SENDING-OFF: Davies.