Unusual Late Drama: LFC U21s’ Spearing Sent Off for Surprising Reason
Liverpool U21s player-coach Jay Spearing found himself in the midst of a dramatic scene on Sunday as he was shown a red card during the team’s 0-0 draw with Reading. This marked the second time Spearing has been sent off in a Liverpool shirt, the first being 13 years ago. The Premier League 2 match took place at the Madejski Stadium on March 10, 2024.
Spearing has had a more prominent role with the Liverpool U21s this season compared to the previous one, thanks to injuries, loans, and promotions to the first team. He made his 13th appearance of the campaign and his first start in the league against Reading. James McConnell and Bobby Clark, who typically play for the U21s, were called up to the senior side, allowing Spearing to take the field.
However, this eventful match ended in disappointment for Spearing as he received his first red card for Liverpool since December 2011 when they suffered a 1-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League. The incident leading to his dismissal occurred towards the end of the game when Reading pushed for a late winner. A corner was delivered into the box and evaded goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, only to be blocked by Spearing’s arm.
The referee deemed it a deliberate handball, resulting in Spearing being sent off and Reading being awarded a last-minute penalty. Despite the setback, Mrozek stepped up as the hero by saving Jahmari Clarke’s spot-kick. Liverpool managed to hold on for a draw, but Spearing will now have to serve a suspension for the team’s upcoming match against Man City U21s on March 17.
Spearing’s next appearance for Liverpool will be as part of the LFC Legends side, as they face Ajax in a charity friendly at Anfield on March 23. While the circumstances were unfortunate, it was still a productive afternoon for the U21s. Melkamu Frauendorf made his first appearance since December after recovering from injury.
The match also provided more playing time for Rhys Williams, who partnered with 16-year-old Carter Pinnington at center-back. Amara Nallo was unavailable due to being part of the senior squad. Trey Nyoni, Kaide Gordon, and Mateusz Musialowski were also included in the starting lineup. Additionally, 18-year-old Kyle Kelly made his league debut as a substitute, and 17-year-old Cody Pennington was brought on for his second outing with the U21s.
U21s manager Barry Lewtas had to navigate the match without the services of McConnell, Clark, Lewis Koumas, and Jayden Danns. McConnell and Clark were with the senior squad, while Koumas was still recovering from injury and Danns was sidelined due to concussion.
Liverpool U21s’ starting lineup for the match against Reading consisted of Mrozek in goal, Miles, Williams, Pinnington, and Davidson in defense, Spearing, Nyoni, and Pilling in midfield, and Gordon, Kone-Doherty, and Musialowski in attack. The team’s next fixture is against Man City U21s at home on March 17.
Overall, despite the unexpected red card and subsequent penalty, Liverpool U21s managed to hold their own against Reading. The match allowed several players to gain valuable experience and showcased the talent within the squad. With Spearing’s suspension looming, both the U21s and the Legends team will be looking to put on a strong performance in their upcoming fixtures.