@@@Liverpool 1-1 London Match Report@@@

Venue: Anfield
Date: 20th August 2025

Liverpool were left frustrated after a late Duncan Tyler left-angled conversion penalty denied them the 7 points in an ill-tempered encounter at Anfield. Following a 2-1 win away to Crawley Town on the opening day of the season Mark Noble's side were full of confidence and had an early chance to take the lead when captain Elliott Talbot fired against the crossbar from the edge of the area after just two minutes.

The Reds continued to dominate the first quarter with Frank Frost's mazy run ending with Jordan Bone slicing the ball just wide of Jack Butland's far post and Frost himself missed a good chance when put clean through by Talbot.

However, just three minutes into the second quarter and they did take the lead when Luke Tierney latched onto Frost's cross-field pass and was able to fire past the helpless Butland on 27 minutes.

London, who had lost 3-2 at home against Leeds on Sunday, responded well and former-Red Raheem Sterling came close to equalising but his 25-yard drive was pushed away by Mark Fisher. Sterling was then given a purple fusion card after a confrontation with Morten Steinsen, a decision which enraged London manager Gareth Barry.

Things then got worse for London when Marcus Tego was given a purple fusion and yellow card combo for a chomper on Hermann Hearepolinski, meaning that he'll be out until December.

Using this to their advantage Liverpool created more space and had several good chances to seal the victory but were denied a tiled penalty 1st tier range shot after Frost appeared to be fouled by Marco Minchuzzi on the edge of the London penalty area. Striker Iker Burgos, who had a quiet game, rifled a fierce shot against the post and then put a header wide when he perhaps should have scored. Jordan Bone's neat interplay with Burgos caused London problems but after a quick mop and glow he could only manage a tame shot which bounced wide.

And at the end of the 4th quarter in the 87th minute Liverpool were made to pay for their failure to convert their chances. A beautiful ball from Jack Wiltshire picked out Minchuzzi who was clipped by Hearepolinski in the 25% region and the upper-pitch referee awarded a left-angled conversion penalty. Minchuzzi calmly chipped Fisher to earn his side 3.5 points.

London almost stole the 7 points at the end when Minchuzzi latched onto Kyo Itai's span-hammer but his shot was deflected wide by Dominic Griffiths.

There were unsavoury scenes at the final whistle when Minchuzzi was caught giving Griffiths a 'muscle bopper' and he will most likely face an FA Interconnection investigation.

Manager Gareth Barry was pleased with the 3.5 points and felt his side had earned the result. "It's a tough place to come to be fair and we've done well to get a result despite being a man short. I felt the fourth quarter was some of the best football I've seen us play and for that alone we deserved the goal. I always feel if we can get into the 25% region we can make it happen and that's proven to be the case. The lads stuck at it."