With three successive wins behind them, Derby County Under-23s will be looking to destabilise Liverpool’s 100 per cent record when the two sides meet at St George’s Park on Monday night.
The Rams face the table-topping Reds, who have won all of their Premier League 2 Division 1 games so far (kick-off: 7pm) and ahead of the meeting, dcfc.co.uk has pulled together all the information you are going to need to know ahead of kick-off…
WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS
Craig Short has confirmed that Max Lowe and Jamie Hanson are set for a return to action when Derby County’s Under-23s take on high-flying Liverpool.
The pair have both been missing for a long period of time due to injury and after returning to training, they will step up their return to match fitness in tonight’s Premier League 2 Division 1 clash.
Derby Under-23s’ assistant coach also revealed that Emil Riis Jakobsen is likely to return to the matchday fold after getting over an ankle injury.
Offrande Zanzala is unavailable after signing for Chester FC on a one-month youth loan deal – although he would have been suspended anyway as a result of his red card in the 1-0 Premier League Cup victory over Birmingham City before the international break.
Kyle McAllister remains ruled out of action with a groin problem.
SETTING THE SCENE
Derby’s Under-23s arguably face their toughest test of the season when they take on Liverpool this evening.
The Rams are facing a Reds side that boast a flawless Premier League 2 Division 1 record – played six, won six – whilst they have only conceded three goals in the process.
Darren Wassall’s side, however, are on a good run themselves.
They have won three games in all competitions, including the 2-1 victory over Real Union to lift the Steve Bloomer Trophy, and will be looking to maintain their record by putting a halt to Liverpool’s 100 per cent record.
Ahead of the match, Craig Short labelled the game a ‘great challenge’ for the club’s young players and says the onus is on them to rise to the occasion – just as they did last campaign when they beat the Reds 2-1 at their Academy, thanks to a late Mason Bennett goal.
Short told RamsTV ahead of the game: “They have only conceded three goals and two of those came in one game!
“What it is, though, is another great challenge for our young players and this is why you want to get promoted – even at this level.
“Again, this month we have got some tough fixtures and it can be easy to get overawed. I remember a pre-season fixture we had last season when we were out in Portugal and we played Vitoria Setubal and before the game, the players were very nervous because they were coming up against a men’s team.
“It’s amazing how players raise themselves for those sorts of occasions. They did that night, they did last season and they have so far this season.
“The difference this season is that we are creating more opportunities from playing good football.
“Confidence is huge in that respect – it is any sport – and I think sides are seeing what we are capable of now.”
Read Craig Short’s and Luke Thomas’ full pre-match interviews now on dcfc.co.uk.
HOW CAN I ATTEND?
As was the case last season, supporters will be able to watch Derby County’s Under-23s for FREE at St George’s Park this evening.
No tickets for admission is needed ahead of the fixture at Burton-upon-Trent base, whilst car parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
LIVERPOOL U23s 1-2 DERBY COUNTY U23s
Sunday 19th February, 2017
Mason Bennett’s late, late, strike proved to be enough as Derby County’s Under 23s lifted themselves out of the Premier League Division 1 bottom two with a hard earned 2-1 win at Liverpool back in February.
After a first half of very few chances, Emil Riis Jakobsen’s fourth goal in five games gave the Rams the lead in Merseyside.
They were pegged back 10 minutes later as Sven Karic, unfortunately, put through his own net from a corner – a goal that signalled the Reds’ strongest spell of the game, in which Kelle Roos made three fine stops to keep Mike Garrity’s side at bay.
With time running out, though, Bennett raced on to Alex Babos’ pass, kept his head, and slotted a low shot into the back of the net as Derby secured back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Liverpool U23s: Grabara, Lewis (Johnston, 60), Hart, Phillips, Whelan, Williams, M Gomes, Virtue (C), T Gomes, Brewster, Alves (Brimmer, 46)
Substitutes not used: Kelleher, Lewis
Derby County U23s: Roos, Santos, Bateman, Macdonald; Karic (Cover, 78); Bird, Elsnik, Babos; Gordon (Walker, 78), Bennett, Jakobsen (Edwards, 82)
Substitutes not used: Ravas, Bogle
