Football Club Buzz

Liverpool took a giant step towards reaching the semi-finals of the Swiss U16 Cup after recording two 1-0 victories on Friday in Ruggell.

The Reds beat FC Zurich 1-0 in their opening game of the day courtesy of a late Jerome Sinclair goal, before they recorded the same scoreline against Team Vorarlberg, with Ryan Kent on target.

It means Liverpool have picked up maximum points from their first three fixtures without conceding a goal – and Academy manager Steve Cooper was delighted with the character his players displayed.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: “I’ve been pleased with the boys today.

“It’s been a mixed day in terms of the two games. The first one this morning was a good test for the boys as we came up against a team who were quite physical, played with a high tempo and pressed us.

“We had to battle it out and that’s something you look for when you come on tour – seeing if the boys can stick at things and adapt to different playing styles.

“Although it wasn’t the playing style we were expecting to come up against, we adapted quickly and handled the pressure well. They didn’t really create any chances to score and fortunately we were able to nick a goal at the end.

“I spoke to the boys afterwards and made it clear that sometimes you have to play different styles of football and it can’t always be the way we want to play – you have to adapt to the game and the conditions, and so I am pleased they were able to do that.

“In the second game, we played some really good stuff. It was more like the way we wanted to play – we passed the ball well and created some great chances.

“I told the boys at half-time that they needed to keep it going as this is the way we want them to play and the way they will improve and become the players we want them to.

“I said to them if they kept playing the way they had done in the first half, a goal would come – and it did.

“We were pleased with the attitude today and in terms of overall development, the boys are definitely doing what we’re asking of them.”

Liverpool will wrap up their Group B campaign on Saturday with matches against St Gallen and Rapid Vienna.

Cooper added: “It will be another busy day but the aims will remain the same – to keep playing our way, getting the boys more minutes on the pitch so they can practice what we want them to do.

“If we can do that, I am confident we can score goals and keep clean sheets and then obviously that will lead to results as well.”

Click on the play button below to watch an emotional FREE video from Switzerland

Meanwhile, Cooper sent a message of support to Liverpool’s other team in Switzerland ahead of their European Cup opener this weekend.

The Reds’ Ability Counts squad, who will kick off their defence of the European Disabled tournament title on Saturday, have been cheering on the U16s in Ruggell and Cooper is delighted the two teams have had an opportunity to get to know each other.

Cooper said: “We’ve had some fantastic days with them. They’ve been coming in the dressing room and wishing the boys good luck. It’s so rewarding to be around a set of lads like that.

“Colin (McCall) is doing a great job looking after them with his staff and it’s been a privilege to be around them.

“I’m sure with the positive outlook on life they have, they’ll play on Saturday and enjoy themselves and do the club proud – which is what they’re doing by the way they are conducting themselves out here.”

Source : Liverpool FC

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