By Daniel Wood
A young Huddersfield Town B team side held out for a draw against a senior Liverpool FC team.
The Town side consisted of some of the club’s youngest and most exciting players, as they enjoyed a good game of football against the Reds.
The Liverpool side was packed with first-team players such as Adrian, Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi.
B Team boss Danny Schofield led out his side who performed impressively in the first half with the best chance coming from Jaden Brown who shot just wide of the target. A superb pass by 17-year-old winger, Pat Jones, split open the Liverpool defence.
The Reds led at half time through a goal from Takumi Minamino who collected a deep cross and beat the Town loanee goalkeeper, Joel Pereira, from close range.
In the second half, Liverpool introduced Loris Karius, Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster into the action.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, the young Town side equalised through an own goal from a Liverpool defender. Brahima Diarra sent Jones into space on the right, and Jones’ cross was heading towards Kian Harratt before a stretching Liverpool defender sent to ball into the back of his own net.
Schofield said the game was an illustration of what the B Team is all about and insisted that their preparation offered the players the opportunity to give everything on the pitch.
The B Team boss also mentioned how they want to keep the B Team as close to the style of play of the first team. Schofield commented: “We’re mirroring the style that the Head Coach wants the First Team to play and the lads did it brilliantly.
“That means you must be very brave on the ball – when we asked them to receive it in the face of Liverpool’s intense press – and off it, where we will go one vs one at certain times.
“The only important results at this Club are at First Team level; we put our focus into developing players.”
Schofield also insisted that despite results not mattering as much, it plays a huge part in players’ development and adds to their belief on the field.
Town’s XI and Substitutes (4-3-3).
Joel Pereira; Jaden Brown, Romoney Crichlow, Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Mustapha Olagunju, 46’), Ilounga Pata; Josh Austerfield, Brahima Diarra, Matty Daly (Kian Harratt, 60’); Patrick Jones, Micah Obiero, Aaron Rowe (Sam Sharrock-Peplow, 46’)
Unused subs
Giosue Bellagambi, Nicholas Bilokapic, Myles Bright