Match reportLiverpool U21s exit Bristol Street Motors Trophy after Bradford defeat

Playing in the competition’s knockout phase for the first time, the Reds fell behind at the University of Bradford Stadium to Tyler Smith’s early strike.

Barry Lewtas’ side’s encouraging response was clipped by the sending-off of Lewis Koumas on the half-hour mark, and the home side went on to seal victory after the break as Andy Cook, Vadaine Oliver and Smith, again, netted.

“It was always going to be a tough game, so to try to play most of it with 10 made it even harder. It makes it a little bit harder to judge certain moments,” U21s head coach Lewtas told Liverpoolfc.com post-match.

“Overall, obviously we’re disappointed because going down to 10 men in that manner kind of killed us really. Disappointed but within there, there was lots of character.

“I thought the boys competed, especially at the end of the first half, I thought we were going to equalise, we got in on their goal a few times. I just think in end we probably just didn’t have enough, especially with 10 men.”

Lewtas added: “We have managed to get quite a few players back: Harvey [Blair], Tom [Hill], Tommy Pilling, Davo [Josh Davidson], they have all been injured, so for us to get a few players back has been huge. Positive.”

Bradford grabbed an advantage in the tie inside the opening seven minutes.

Jonathan Tomkinson’s deep cross into the box from the right was latched on to by Smith and he beat Fabian Mrozek in the Liverpool goal with a drilled finish.

Luke Chambers was not too far away with a curling free-kick that went wide as the Reds sought a response, though they soon needed an excellent save from Mrozek to deny Cook at close range.

Having shrugged off the early concession, the visitors were just beginning to gain a real foothold in the game when they were reduced to 10 players.

After Bradford goalkeeper Harry Lewis had rushed out to clear a ball over the top aimed for Ben Doak’s run, Koumas was guilty of a rash challenge as he stretched to try to win back possession, leading to a straight red card.

Doak moved into a more central attacking role as a result of that dismissal and he quickly had a sight of goal, shooting too high having been teed up by Mateusz Musialowski.

The Scotland U21 forward next beat two defenders to carve out a one-v-one with Lewis, who did well to block as Doak tried to take the ball around him.

Musialowski scored in all three group fixtures for Liverpool and he threatened to extend that streak early in the second half, guiding an effort just wide with the ’keeper helpless.

And the Reds’ challenge increased in minute 50 as appeals for a foul on Chambers were rejected and Cook dispatched Bradford’s second of the night from inside the area.

Calum Scanlon struck the side-netting having linked up with Doak along the left-hand side, but with 65 on the clock the home team further quashed hopes of a fightback. Richie Smallwood’s strike from distance was spilled by Mrozek and Oliver capitalised to tap in for 3-0.

Doak had to limp off with apparent cramp 20 minutes from time and Lewtas’ charges needed Mrozek to produce several fine saves to keep Bradford at bay.

Smith did find the net again in stoppage time for his second goal and the hosts’ fourth as Liverpool tired with their numerical disadvantage, exiting the tournament for 2023-24.

Reflecting on his side’s participation in the competition overall, Lewtas said: “I think we’ve done really well, it’s just probably tinged with a little bit of what might have been there.

“It would be wrong for me to say the result would have been different, because who knows? But we’ll never know.”

TEAM

Liverpool U21s: Mrozek, Miles (Davidson, 80), Nallo, Pinnington, Chambers, McConnell, Nyoni (Hill, 66), Musialowski (Pilling, 80), Scanlon (Blair, 66), Doak (Frauendorf, 69), Koumas.

Unused subs: O. Kelly, Spearing.