Liverpool Reserves 4
Wrexham Reserves 2
Reserve Friendly
Liverpool Reserves |
4 - 2 |
Wrexham Reserves |
 |
Reserve Friendly |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
|
Nigel Clough Nigel Clough Nigel Clough Michael Thomas |
Gareth Owen Steve Watkin |
| Team Managers | |
| Steve Heighway |
Brian Flynn |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
Tony Warner Stig Inge Bjornebye Neil Ruddock Michael Thomas Jason McAteer Nigel Clough Jan Molby |
Mark Cartwright .1 Richard Barnes .2 Paul Jones .3 Dave Ridler .4 Barry Jones .5 Richard Rawlins .6 Mike Cody .7 Gareth Owen .8 Steve Morris .9 Steve Watkin .10 Lewis Coady .11 |
| Bench | |
| None. |
Mel Pejic .12 Ken Dixon .13 Joey Jones .14 |
| Substitutions | |
| None. |
Ken Dixon for Mark Cartwright Joey Jones for Dave Ridler Mel Pejic for Barry Jones |
| Cautions | |
| None. | None. |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
|
Match Report
With both the Premiership side and Wrexham's reserve sides without a game, former Anfield team-mates Steve Heighway and Joey Jones arranged a friendly match at Melwood. The Liverpool side over cost £10 million and included the likes of Neil Ruddock, Jason McAteer, Nigel Clough, Michael Thomas, Stig Bjornebye and Jan Molby. Wrexham gave outings to Barry Jones, Gareth Owen, Stephen Morris, and Steve Watkin, with the rest of the side being comprised of first-year professionals.
With Liverpool playing their typical short passing game, the Wrexham midfield found the going tough in the early stages. However, they stunned the home side by taking a 25th minute lead; Gareth Owen scoring with a stunning 25-yard shot that flew past Tony Warner in the Liverpool goal.
Two goals from Former England international Nigel Clough put the home side in front before Watkin levelled matters, nipping in front of Warner to convert a right-wing cross. Further goals from Clough, who completed his hat-trick, and Michael Thomas ensured a Liverpool win but it proved a useful workout for the Wrexham youngsters as Richard Rawlins explained.
"They gave us the runaround in the first-half because they had three men in centre-midfield. After the break, Mike Cody tucked in more on the right and the play was much more even. In the end we probably deserved a draw but it was a great experience to play against Premiership players."
