ROBBIE FOWLER was on the scoresheet, but Liverpool reserves suffered a heavy defeat and two injury scares at home to Newcastle United in the Barclays FA Premier Reserve League North last night, going down 4-1.
Gary Ablett fielded a strong line up with plenty of experience, including Jerzy Dudek, Stephen Warnock, Jermaine Pennant, Boudewijn Zenden and Fowler, as well as Nabil El Zhar, a 20-year-old Moroccan formerly with French club St Etienne.
But they lost defenders Stephen Warnock and Lee Peltier to injury during the match.
Despite a huge array of talent in the Liverpool's line-up it was Newcastle's experienced forward Albert Luque who stole the show with two fine strikes.
Liverpool had to make a change after just two minutes, when Peltier was stretchered off after a crunching challenge on the touchline. James Smith replaced him.
The visitors had the game's first goal attempt after a quarter of an hour, when Luque found space in the middle of the park and tried to chip Dudek who was off his line.
The Pole did well to get back and make a spectacular tip over the crossbar.
El Zhar sent a header wide after doing well to outjump the visitors' defence and meet Robbie Threlfall's hanging cross, but minutes later Newcastle took the lead through Luque.
HAVE your say on our Reds Messageboard - click 
RSS News Feed