5pm 25 February 2018
Premier League Cup, Group G
Stoke City U23 0 Liverpool U23 4 (att 130)
At the same time as a couple of Premier League teams were playing the final of the Football League's cup at Wembley, the Premier League's own cup competition was progressing from its group stage to the knock out rounds.
The Premier League Cup doesn't feature first teams though, and it was Stoke and Liverpool's under 23 sides who battled it out for the chance to qualify from Group G of the Champions League-style tournament.
The sides went into their final group game level on points, but the visitors' superior goal difference meant they only needed a draw. From the start it was clear that Liverpool would achieve that objective with ease, as they were far the better side.
Two goals in each half were enough for a comfortable win, and Liverpool weren't hampered by the late dismissal of a player for retaliating after being fouled. To be fair, the Liverpool teamsheet had more familiar names than Stoke's, including England international Nathaniel Clyne, on his way back from a long-term injury.
Stoke's current venue for most games at this level is the FA's centre at St George's Park, near Burton. I'd phoned ahead to check which pitch the game would be on, and was tempted out on a very cold evening by the chance to tick off 'pitch four', which has a pair of seated stands running the length of one side of the pitch.
I think there are 12 full size pitches at St George's Park, and this is the fifth I've been to. Previous visits were to see Burton Albion reserves on pitch one, an Independent Schools FA game on pitch five, and Derby County under 21 on pitch six, as well as a pre-blog visit to a Burton Albion youth team game on pitch 12.
Premier League Cup, Group G
Stoke City U23 0 Liverpool U23 4 (att 130)
At the same time as a couple of Premier League teams were playing the final of the Football League's cup at Wembley, the Premier League's own cup competition was progressing from its group stage to the knock out rounds.
The Premier League Cup doesn't feature first teams though, and it was Stoke and Liverpool's under 23 sides who battled it out for the chance to qualify from Group G of the Champions League-style tournament.
The sides went into their final group game level on points, but the visitors' superior goal difference meant they only needed a draw. From the start it was clear that Liverpool would achieve that objective with ease, as they were far the better side.
Two goals in each half were enough for a comfortable win, and Liverpool weren't hampered by the late dismissal of a player for retaliating after being fouled. To be fair, the Liverpool teamsheet had more familiar names than Stoke's, including England international Nathaniel Clyne, on his way back from a long-term injury.
Stoke's current venue for most games at this level is the FA's centre at St George's Park, near Burton. I'd phoned ahead to check which pitch the game would be on, and was tempted out on a very cold evening by the chance to tick off 'pitch four', which has a pair of seated stands running the length of one side of the pitch.
I think there are 12 full size pitches at St George's Park, and this is the fifth I've been to. Previous visits were to see Burton Albion reserves on pitch one, an Independent Schools FA game on pitch five, and Derby County under 21 on pitch six, as well as a pre-blog visit to a Burton Albion youth team game on pitch 12.
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