21.7.07  TESTIMONIAL FRIENDLY
Peterborough 0 Liverpool 0 (www.lfc.tv)


A Gary Ablett managed Liverpool XI drew 0-0 with League Two side Peterborough in a testimonial friendly for their long serving goalkeeper Mark Tyler at London Road.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but it was Liverpool's goalkeeper, Hansen, who was the busier and he made two fines save, one from the penalty spot, to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Fans at London Road were given a glimpse into what may be Liverpool's future with many of the young players who this year retained the FA Youth Cup and some of Rafa's summer captures representing the Reds while the first team continue their pre-season preparations in Hong Kong.

A crowd of more than 9,000 turned up in support of Peterborough's goalkeeper Mark Tyler's testimonial, who has been at the club for 13 years. And the game was given a touch of extra significance because Peterborough's Chairman is a massive Liverpool fan and was at the Champions League Final; and Posh are managed by Darren Ferguson, the son of Manchester United manager Alex.

When the game started it was Liverpool who carried the greater threat and Idrizaj, who scored a first half hat-trick against Wrexham, twice brought a good save from man of the moment Tyler.

But it took a great penalty save from Reds keeper Martin Hansen to keep it goalless at the break after Roque's 42nd minute handball gave Keates a chance from 12 yards. Hansen's one handed save onto the post bringing a low key first half to an exciting end.

The Reds made a substitution at the break and it gave us a first look at Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth, after he replaced Craig Lindfield. But it was Peterborough who dominated the early part of the second half and it took another fine save from Hansen, this time from a Blackett header, to keep the scores level.

Ablett made another change on the hour when he brought on the second half of Rafa's double Hungarian swoop in the summer, Andras Simon, and he was quickly involved when he made a dart into the area only to be foiled by two Posh defenders.

There was a welcome sight of sunlight as the game drifted towards full time, but it was a goal that the fans wanted to see and neither side could craft a sufficient opening. The man they'd all come to see, Mark Tyler, enjoying a standing ovation having celebrated his big day with a clean sheet.
 

Liverpool:  Hansen, Peltier, Smith, Roque, Huth, Spearing, Flynn (Crowther 66), Le Tallec, Lindfield (Nemeth 46), Idrizaj (Brouwer 73), Putterill (Simon 59).

Subs not used – Oldfield, Kelly.