Martin Kelly and Nabil El Zhar both made successful comebacks from injury as Liverpool Reserves booked their place in the semi-final of the Lancashire Senior Cup following a 2-0 win at Bolton on Monday night.
The duo enjoyed 45 minutes apiece as goals from David Amoo and Damien Plessis saw John McMahon's men bolster their bid for a clean sweep of trophies with another assured display.
It was Kelly's first appearance since recovering from the injury he sustained in the first-team's 2-1 defeat against Lyon back in October, and he gave an accomplished showing before being replaced by El Zhar at the interval.
In truth, the majority of the first period was a sluggish affair with the visitors carving out the better openings.
The first chance arrived on 16 minutes when a neat pass from Jay Spearing found Amoo in space, and although the youngster was challenged out of it, the ricochet fell kindly for Alex Kacaniklic. The Swedish winger fizzed in a low shot that was parried by Adam Bogdan but Amoo was deemed offside as he slipped the ball into an empty net.
Bolton responded and Peter Gulacsi showed good handling to deny Aaron Mooy's ferocious 30 yard free-kick before the Trotters no. 10 took aim with another shot from distance that flew five yards over the crossbar.
The hosts were playing some neat football at times and nearly stole ahead on 32 minutes but Gulacsi produced a superb point-blank save to keep out Rhys Bennett's header.
For much of the season Daniel Pacheco has been the second-string's major threat in the attacking third, and after a quiet opening he enjoyed a lively finish to the half that eventually saw Liverpool grab the advantage.
First the Spaniard glided past three defenders and fired just over before setting up Amoo for the opening goal of the game on 41 minutes.
The diminutive forward showed great vision to pick out Amoo's run and after the former Millwall man had rounded Bogdan, he kept his nerve to steer the ball into an empty net.
It could even have got worse for the hosts on the stroke of half-time but Pacheco saw his curler well held by the Trotters keeper after he had cut inside on his favoured right foot.
A goal to the good, the Reds opted to introduce El Zhar at the break, with the Moroccan forward making his first appearance since injuring his knee on the pre-season tour of Asia in the summer.
However, the home side were the first to show in the second 45 and Gulacsi saved bravely at the feet of Javlon Campbell after the striker's impressive control had given him a sight of goal.
Back came Liverpool and some more Pacheco magic should have led to the Reds doubling their lead, but he under-hit his pass to El Zhar after a sensational turn in the midfield.
The Spanish youth international was growing in confidence as the game wore on and another piece of sublime vision almost gave the watching crowd a moment to remember on 50 minutes, but his Xabi Alonso-esque lob from the halfway line dropped just wide of a relieved Bogdan's goal.
It was all Liverpool at this point and El Zhar could have capped a lively cameo with an assist when he burst past two before crossing for Kacaniklic, who somehow fired his shot wide from 10 yards.
Pacheco then curled just off target and substitute Jordy Brouwer miscued when well placed as the Reds continued to probe, but that second goal remained elusive.
With time running out Bolton pressed for a late leveller, but Liverpool held firm and extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches when Plessis converted Amoo's cross six minutes from time.
Liverpool Reserves: Gulacsi, Kelly (El Zhar 46), Mavinga (Threlfall 87), Ayala, Darby, Spearing, Plessis, Irwin, Kacaniklic (Brouwer 74), Pacheco, Amoo. Subs: Oldfield, Mendy.
Liverpoolfc.tv Man of the Match: Daniel Pacheco. Another magnificent display from the Spaniard.
Author: Paul Hassall at the County Ground
Tagged: bolton , reserves , senior cup
Another accomplished performance from the diminutive little playmaker ,I think Rafa is maybe letting him watch from the bench so he has a full understanding of what it takes to be involved ,similar to the methods he deployed with Alonso when he first signed ...
I fully expect Pacheco to be involved in a greater capacity sooner rather than later ,and I fully expect his precocious talent to warrant more than a spot of bench warming in the near future
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