'We wanted to perform for the fans at Anfield - they helped us'
Barry Lewtas couldn’t hide his delight as Liverpool U23s produced a sparkling display in front of the Kop as they beat Arsenal 3-0 in Premier League 2.
It was a return to winning ways for the young Reds on Saturday in front of a very appreciative Anfield crowd.
Mateusz Musialowski made it an 18th birthday to remember with the opening goal at the Anfield Road end – following on from his FA Youth Cup strike at L4 against the Gunners last season.
Paul Glatzel, on loan at Tranmere Rovers, returned to provide a brilliant assist and claim a special individual goal himself to make it 2-0.
Scouser James Norris then added a third when he won possession back and ran through to score.
Read on as Lewtas reflected on an entertaining afternoon from his team…
On the team producing a fitting display at Anfield…
We did. It was a big occasion, we had a few fans in and we were up against a really tough opponent who are flying in the league, so we knew we would be up against it. But I’ve been saying the last few weeks, I know we’ve not been winning but there’s been a resemblance of a performance there. It just needed to click together and against Arsenal I think we got that.
On the overall performance…
We told the boys we needed to start well, which I thought we did. We had some good moments in the game. We said to the boys at half-time we have to be ready and focused if they decided to change it, and be ready to adapt, start quickly and show them that we are ready for the second half. We started the second half brilliantly with intensity and it was really good and we got our rewards.
On Musialowski netting a birthday goal…
Maty has stepped up to the U23s this season after doing ever so well playing for the U18s last season. It is a step-up to this level but I think in the game against Chelsea and again today, they are real yardsticks for him. He was fantastic in possession but he worked ever so hard out of possession as well. He’s a young boy and he’s still learning the game, but whenever he got the ball out there you thought something was going to happen – and that’s the ability he has got.
On Glatzel returning with an assist and a goal…
It was good for Paul and it was great to have him back. You know what you are going to get from Paul. He’s a real pest to the opposition and you wouldn’t want to play against him because he’s always there, he presses and he runs in behind. You can see he has been out on loan because I saw a real maturity in his game – with his hold-up play, he’s used to contact. I thought it was a really good, mature performance. That goal will do him the world of good and I’m really pleased for Paul. I was also really pleased for James. He did brilliantly to win the ball and it was a great finish.
On the support to the team from the fans inside Anfield…
It was brilliant to see them in the Kop, cheering the boys on. We told the boys we wanted to perform for the fans out there and we got that, and the fans really helped us across the line.
On Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League trip to Atletico Madrid with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and the U19 group…
We are all really looking forward to it and it’s a great experience for everyone. The boys have had a tough game here at Anfield and now we face another test – but that’s the life and that’s what we want to prepare them for.