Friendly Report: Waterford United 0-6 Liverpool XI

A Liverpool XI defeated Waterford United 6-0 at the RSC on Friday evening. A goal apiece from Jack Dunn, Ryan McLaughlin, Sergi Canos, and Sam Hart, as well as a brace from Samed Yesil, earned the Reds a convincing victory on Suirside in front of a sizable crowd. 

Waterford started as bright as the July sunshine bathing the RSC, moving their illustrious hosts around the field with some crisp passing. The Blues looked every inch the side in mid-season early on but, outside of a couple of dangerous set-pieces, couldn’t convert their possession into meaningful chances. Combined with Liverpool’s understandable pre-season lethargy, it made for an uneventful opening twenty minutes. 

Then came the warning signs from the visitors. Liverpool’s youngest ever first-team player, Jerome Sinclair, was showing flashes of his quality and the Reds were beginning to look sharper in their movement and passing. Just before the half hour mark, Jack Dunn drifted infield and turned to run at the Waterford backline before seeing his low, curling effort tipped behind by Matt Connor. 

Dunn wasn’t to be denied for long however as from the resulting corner Waterford failed to clear, allowing the young winger to display some nimble footwork and find the bottom corner. 

On 32 minutes he almost netted his second, once again driving infield but this time denied by the crossbar.  Two minutes later it was Sinclair’s turn but the striker could only fire straight at Connor after being played through down the left channel.  
 

As the half moved towards its final minutes, Dunn remained comfortably the most threatening player on the field. He produced almost a carbon copy of his earlier chance when, with 37 minutes gone, he struck the woodwork for a second time with Connor beaten. 
 

Liverpool made nine changes for the second-half and both sides were liberal in their use of substitutions throughout the rest of the game. It was a development which ultimately favoured the visitors, as their superior quality was made evident. 
 

One of the Liverpool changes saw the introduction of Northern Ireland international, Ryan McLaughlin, and it was he who doubled the Reds’ advantage on 51 minutes. The pacy wing-back raced onto a bisecting through-ball before calmly slotting home. 
 

Evan Galvin produced a rare Waterford attempt on goal shortly afterwards, as he drove into space before shooting tamely into the hands of Andrew Firth. 
 

Just past the hour mark, Liverpool were awarded a chance to go three-nil up, when Samed Yesil was taken down inside the area. The German U21 international stepped up to take, but saw his low effort turned away well by Robert Birdsall. 
 

Waterford were merely delaying the inevitable, and ex-Barcelona forward Sergi Canos did add a third on 72 minutes, finishing high into the net from a low cross delivered from the right. 
 

Three minutes later Liverpool had four, this time Sam Hart got forward and was at full stretch to divert home another low cross at the back-post. 
 

Two more goals followed in the final 15 minutes, both from Yesil. First the number nine showed a deft touch inside the box before coolly finding the back of the net from close range and, barely three minutes later, he turned up in the area again, this time seeing his initial effort saved before firing home the rebound on the turn. 
 

Liverpool had their fill after the sixth goal went in and Waterford saw out the final minutes in relative comfort. The Blues can now turn their attention back to the First Division, which they currently prop up, while Liverpool can enjoy an excellent start to pre-season preparations for their talented youngsters. 

 

Waterford United: Matt Connor; Dean Reidy, Colum Nugent, Shane Mackey, Sean Corcoran;  Aaron O’Connor, Ethan Boyle, Sean Burke, Evan Galvin, Anthony McAlavey; Cory Galvin. 

 

Liverpool XI: Lawrence Vigouroux; Matty Virtue, Rafa Paez, Tom Brewitt, Sam Hart; Toni Gomes, Alex O’Hanlon, Adam Phillips; Jack Dunn, Jerome Sinclair, Ovie Ejaria. 

 

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jack Dunn.