As Liverpool took on Huddersfield in one of their pre-season friendlies on Wednesday night, fans were treated to a very rare sight indeed.
After an injury to Lucas, Jurgen Klopp decided that, with a depleted bench, he would make a rather strange substitution, bringing on youth team goalkeeper Shamal George and putting him up top as a striker.
65: Lucas has come off. Who replaces him? No substitutes other than Shamal George, so on comes the goalkeeper! [0-1]
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 20 July 2016
Our new striker... @shamal_george! 😉😆 pic.twitter.com/4VsdeDwLMo
— LFC India (@LFCIndia) 21 July 2016
The decision almost paid dividends too, as he did his best to play Lazar Marković through on goal shortly after coming on to the field.
Goalkeeper Shamal George almost plays in Markovic with first touch. #LFCtour pic.twitter.com/nbiRtxrKMc
— Liverpool Gifs (@LiverpoolGifs) 20 July 2016
He also had a one-on-one opportunity, but was ruled to be marginally offside as he attempted to hold his run and wait for the ball through that would set him up for the chance.
Shamal George cruelly denied a one-on-one opportunity #LFCtour pic.twitter.com/WJIbY4DanG
— Liverpool Gifs (@LiverpoolGifs) 20 July 2016
A penalty in the closing stages of the game could have seen him knick a goal, but Spaniard Alberto Moreno stepped up to take the spot kick instead. In the celebrations between the two afterwards, it was pretty clear that George was a bit bigger than most of the rest of the squad.
Image: Dave Howarth / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Outside of George's appearance, Liverpool fans were pleased to see new signing Marko Grujić (who joined back in January and had been on loan at Red Star Belgrade) once again in goalscoring form, as his opener, coupled with Moreno's penalty, gave them a 2-0 win.
Marko Grujic on the half-volley last night! 👌
Highlights v Huddersfield: https://t.co/Dz5fC64lsLhttps://t.co/347HDO75El
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 21 July 2016
The game was a special one for Klopp too, as the Championship side are managed by one of Klopp's best friends David Wagner. The two men played together at Mainz in the 1990s, and speaking to LFC TV in advance of the match, he said "Wagner is one of my best friends, maybe my best friend. We played a few years together and we didn’t only play, we celebrated a few times!"
Liverpool have already departed to continue their pre-season with a trip to the United States, so it may be worth keeping an eye out to see if George gets another chance to get his name on the scoresheet.
Via The Daily Mail
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