AcademyLewtas reacts to mini-derby win: 'Our pressing and counter-pressing was magnificent'
Barry Lewtas gave special praise to his Liverpool U21s side after a dominant 4-0 win over Everton in their Premier League 2 opener on Monday night.
After hitting the woodwork twice and missing several opportunities in the opening half, the instrumental Bobby Clark set up Mateusz Musialowski for the opener.
Scouser Terence Miles fired an unstoppable strike for the second, Tom Hill marked his return from injury to make it 3-0 and Clark added a deserved strike for the fourth.
Read on as Lewtas reflects on an emphatic mini-derby display, speaking to Liverpoolfc.com…
On a great way to start the new campaign…
When we go into these games we always have a real focus on us and how we want to play, and today was a good day. I thought we played ever so well. We were patient, individually we were good and collectively we were good, and in the end we managed to put away a few of those chances we created.
On making such a positive start to the game…
With the quality of players that we have got, I think we could have converted some of those chances that we missed. That is kind of the level we set. The lads practise enough, so we were a little bit disappointed about that. Because for all of our good play, we have to finish that off.
We did say to the lads at half-time, though, that if we keep playing, keep building, keep going through the lines, utilise some spaces a bit better then something will come, and we managed to get the goals. That was the key message – that we had to keep the same intensity and play the way we were playing, keep passing the ball. And some of our counter-pressing, the way we won the ball back, was magnificent.
On an important save from Marcelo Pitaluga just before the break…
Right at the end of the half it was and if they get a goal then the game looks different and it gives them a chance to come out and defend and try to stop us. It was a really big moment and it was a fantastic save from Marcelo. I just felt that was the only moment during the game when we were trying to force it and it was as if we had to go in at half-time getting that goal to make it 1-0. But it’s the small things and they are only still young lads.
On a brilliant opening goal with Musialowski netting after superb play from Clark…
When Matty dribbles in the right positions, he is a real threat and I thought he really was tonight. I felt Bobby dribbled with the ball well, Matty, we had pace with Calum Scanlon down the left and I thought his combination with James Norris was superb. It was a great, positive moment for Terence to get our second goal because I felt at half-time he could get up the pitch a bit more and join in with Matty. He will be chuffed with that goal and I was really pleased for him.
On Hill marking his comeback with a goal…
A great moment for Tom. We obviously celebrate the good parts of the game but there are some dark times for the lads as well and Tom has had a real tough time with injury. He is a great kid, works ever so hard and he’s dealt with the real lows and blows that have come his way brilliantly. We need to ease him back in and get him going but he can be a really important player for us this season. I’m sure he wants to kickstart his career now and it was a lovely finish, which is what he is known for. He could have had a second as well and he makes some great runs into the box, so it’s nice to see he’s not lost that identity.
On a deserved goal for Clark…
Bobby deserved that in terms of his work-rate and his quality. Bobby is a midfielder who can carry the ball, drive and dribble, and that goal rounded off his performance.
On Friday night’s trip to face Derby County…
It’s always a tough game away at Derby. You know what we are like, we just take every game as it comes. We want to win every game we play and we will recover from this one, see who we have got and take it from there.
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