Posted on by admin

Twitter Reacts to Liverpool’s Youngest Ever XI, Aston Villa Celebrations & Harvey Elliott Display

Aston Villa comfortably defeated a youthful Liverpool side 5-0 in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter final, although the scoreline flattered the Villans as the Reds dominated possession and registered more shots.

With Liverpool’s senior players preparing for the Club World Cup in the Middle East, it was a youthful side that headed to the East Midlands in this Carabao Cup tie. Under-23 Boss Neil Critchley took the reins from Jurgen Klopp and named the Reds’ youngest ever starting XI, handing five prospects their first team debuts.

​​However, age is just a number and Villa were given a stark reminder of this in the opening ten minutes. ​Liverpool were full of energy and subjected their opponents to a high press that carved out a couple of excellent chances, Harvey Elliott the catalyst for both.

Even when the expected Villa onslaught came, the Reds regained composure and demonstrated their potential – playing neat possession football and winning the ball back through a high press.

​​To say that Villa’s two goals in the 14th and 17th minutes were against the run of play would be a gargantuan understatement. Conor Hourihane’s free kick flew past Caoimhín Kelleher as Jonathan Kodjia (as he claimed) made the slightest of touches and Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross flicked off Morgan Boyes and over the young goalkeeper’s head to make it 2-0.

The young Reds, however, had very much been on top and dominated possession as well as shots in the early stages. ​Villa fans had made their feelings known before the first goal, with a smattering of boos audible as their side played without tempo or intensity.

​​Goals three and four followed in the first half’s final ten minutes, Kodjia scoring both. However, the Villa forward came in for plenty of flack, as Twitter viewed his exuberant celebrations a little excessive for the opposition on offer.

​​With the second half a damp squib until Wesley’s late goal made it 5-0 to the hosts, tumbleweeds were rolling through Twitter when it came to the in-game incidents.

Most Liverpool fans took the opportunity to praise their prospects’ efforts and talk of a bright future. There were others who had harsh words for those who hadn’t grasped their opportunity, but the positives far outweighed the negatives.