The game – which was switched from an evening kick-off at Prenton Park to an afternoon clash at the Academy – turned out to be a low-key affair.

McMahon had to start the season without the likes of Andre Wisdom, Jonjo Shelvey and Michael Ngoo, who are all away with various England youth teams.

The injured Tom Ince and Daniel Ayala were also absent, as well as the talented young Spaniard Suso, who hasn’t yet got international clearance to play in the league.

The team that did take to the perfect Academy pitch included Jay Spearing and Dani Pacheco as part of a new policy intended to give fringe first-team players more minutes for the second string.

The early exchanges saw Spearing and skipper Steven Irwin spraying balls forward to Nathan Eccleston without too much success.

Instead it was from a corner that Liverpool created their first serious opportunity, European U19 Championship winner Chris Mavinga heading wide from Pacheco’s corner.

Another Pacheco delivery caused havoc on 14 minutes as three Reds players attacked the ball. It was David Amoo who ultimately connected but his header floated harmlessly over.

The home side were dominating possession without really threatening the experienced Mike Pollitt in goal, though Pacheco did have a curling free-kick saved.

The first scare at the other end came midway through the half when Callum McManaman shot after finding a yard in the box. Goalkeeper Martin Hansen spilled, allowing a follow up effort which Irwin did brilliantly to clear off the line.

McMahon’s hopes of starting 2010-11 with a win were dented on 43 minutes when Nikola Saric left the field on a stretcher after a strong but not malicious tackle from former Liverpool youngster Jordan Mustoe.

And things almost went from bad to worse on the brink of half-time when Wigan full-back Adam Buxton rattled the crossbar with a neatly taken free-kick from the 18-yard line.

It was Wigan who attacked first in the second period when Scouser Jordan Rugg nodded an inviting delivery wide on 51 minutes.

Liverpool countered with a superb dribble from Pacheco, whose cross was diverted behind for a corner just before Amoo could pounce.

Substitute Alex Cooper lashed well over the bar on 66 minutes after good work from Jack Robinson, as once again Liverpool failed to convert possession into goals.

The final chance fell to Emmanuel Mendy but his injury-time blast never bothered Pollitt.

Kelly is again included in the 24-man squad for the two UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying games. The Young Lions travel to face Portugal in Barcelos on Friday, September 3, before facing Lithuania at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium on Tuesday, September 7.

Pearce’s side need to win both matches in order to stand a chance of qualifying for next summer’s finals.

Martin left the Dons in 2006 at the age of 20 to move to Anfield in the hope that he would develop into a top level goalkeeper.

He failed to make the grade in the Reds first team however and has decided to return to the club where he previously made 25 appearances when his contract expires at the start of July.

Having spent the last few seasons out on loan at clubs such as Tranmere, Derby, Accrington Stanley, and as first-choice keeper in Leicester’s promotion campaign last season in League One, Martin has significant experience in the lower leagues to suggest he has developed as a player.

“It’s a dream come true to come back here and I’m grateful to the manager and the chairman for giving me the opportunity,” Martin told the club’s official website.

“The club’s made incredible progress in the four-and-a-half years I’ve been away and, after meeting Karl Robinson, I was really impressed with how he wants to take things forward.

“I’ve had the chance to work with some fantastic players at Liverpool and I’m looking forward to coming back and showing the fans here how much I’ve improved as a goalkeeper.”

Dons’ new manager Robinson, who made Martin his first signing since taking over at stadium:mk from Paul Ince, was also delighted to have brought the keeper back to the club of his youth.

“Since I met David during my time with Liverpool, he’s been a player I’ve admired for a very long time,” said Robinson.

“He left this club as a boy but he’s come back a man and I think he has all the qualities to be a future England goalkeeper.

“We want players at this football club that match our ambition, are passionate about playing for MK Dons and hungry for success, David certainly fits into all of those categories.”

The Anfield side look to be leading the chase for Shelvey – who, at 18, is one of England’s top-rated young players.

Believed to be valued at around £3 million already, Shelvey has made more than 40 appearances for the Addicks since his debut just two months after his 16th birthday.

As a versatile and talented English youngster, the teenager has attracted the interest of London’s top three Premier League clubs.

However, it seems the Merseysiders are leading the race for his signature after impressing him with their set-up and plans to fast-track him into the first-team squad.

Shelvey is capable of playing in a variety of positions – including as a support striker, a winger or an attacking midfielder – and this versatility is thought to have piqued the interest of Reds boss Rafael Benitez.

The Spanish manager is keen to add to a growing youth presence in his squad, which currently includes Spain’s Daniel Pacheco, Argentina’s Gerardo Bruna, and Sweden’s Alexander Kacaniklic.

However, Benitez wants to increase the proportion of home-grown talent by combining his foreign starlets with some English players – with Shelvey fitting the bill.

Source: LiverpoolFC Transfer News

Kelly has made three first-team appearances so far this term, including a highly-impressive performance in the Champions League against Lyon.

He admits studying Johnson in training has helped him develop – and now he wants to use that growth in order to challenge the Reds’ No.2 for a spot in Rafael Benitez’s starting XI over the course of the next year.

“As a young player, there isn’t a right-back better in the country than Glen Johnson to be learning from,” Kelly told LFC Weekly. “His ability defending and going forward is excellent.

“Since his arrival at the club, I’ve learnt so much from him. He’s a really bubbly lad too and helps me all the time. All the players really like him because he’s an approachable person.

“It’s going to be a big ask to replace him in the team but I’ve got to try. Over the next 12 months I want to put him under as much pressure as possible and take my chances when they come along.”

The Finnish striker netted his first goal for the second-string in the Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final against Tranmere Rovers last week and he will be looking to help the Reds reach another final today.

“Lauri is a natural finisher and that is a priceless asset to have at this level,” McMahon told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“I was pleased to see him get his goal against Tranmere. He still has a lot of work to do on his movement and the runs he should be making, but when he gets a chance more often than not it ends up in the back of the net.

“He has done well and will be involved in the team against Wigan. He has this knack of being in the right place at the right time and he tends to finish more than he misses.

“In this week leading up to the game his finishing has been excellent in training. He needs to keep working hard and listen to what we are telling him. He is a lad that does take things on board and he is a decent prospect.

“His next stage in his progression for me is to stay with our squad in the reserves, score goals and show he deserves to start every game.”

The Reds are aiming for a possible treble this season with the league title in their sights, a place in the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup and a chance today to reach the Lancashire County Cup final.

Since the opening day 3-2 defeat at Blackburn McMahon’s side have gone 12 games unbeaten with 11 wins in the process.

McMahon’s side also meet the Latics in the league next Thursday but first they have the chance to reach their second cup final in the space of a week.

“We are looking forward to it and we just need the games now to get our sharpness back after the amount of postponed games we have had,” he added.

“I have seen Wigan three or four times this season and they are very competitive and very aggressive. They play with a lot of pace so we are expecting a really tough game.

“Dave Watson and Graham Barrow have their team well organised and they will work hard and we know with Dave being a Blue they will want to get one over on us, so we have to be ready.

“Our performance against Tranmere last week, for me was not up to the level that we expect and I’m looking for an improvement today.

“I don’t want to make any excuses but the fact we haven’t played that much and just train means you do lose a sharpness and an edge to your game. You can’t replicate in training the competitive edge you get in games so it has been difficult for the lads.

“We are on a good run of unbeaten games but we’ve had this massive gap in between when we have not been able to play so I hope we can get our momentum going again.

“The lads have applied themselves well and they have listened to what we as staff have been telling them. They are taking things on board and improving.

“Results come with performances and I know we stress this all of the time but we are looking for development and improvement and then hopefully some of these lads can play for the first team.”

The 21-year-old full-back has been tipped to become a Reds star in the future and has already featured in the first team this season.

But manager Rafa Benitez is keen for the youngster to gain regular playing time for the remainder of the campaign and that would not be on offer at Anfield.

League One promotion hopefuls Swindon have therefore moved quickly as manager Danny Wilson aims to add what could prove decisive quality at a critical period.

It is understood that Darby is on his way to the County Ground for talks on Wednesday afternoon, with Swindon keen to reinforce their squad after taking only one point from their last three games.

The former England Under 19 international made his full Reds debut in the UEFA Champions League defeat to Fiorentina in December and marked the occasion with an error that demonstrated his naivety when gifting Alberto Gilardino the wining goal.

But Liverpool-born Darby made an impressive return to the first team in the initial FA Cup draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

The 15-year-old an attacking-minded midfielder had courted interest from fellow Premier League clubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham but has secured a move to the Merseyside club.

Sterling has already represented England at youth level and the Reds were delighted to have secured his signature.

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow said: “The success of our academy is vital to the future progress of the club and we have made clear that we will invest in outstanding young talent.

“Raheem is a very exciting young English player whose progress was being closely monitored by many other leading clubs and I’m delighted he’s joining us.

“Frank McParland (academy director) and his staff have done a great job in bringing him to Liverpool.”

Source: SkySports

John McMahon’s side are two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand going into tonight’s game.

Presenter Claire Rourke will be broadcasting live from the Crown Ground at 6.45pm before Steve Hunter and John Durnin take over commentary at 7pm.

Liverpool team:

Peter Gulacsi – Stephen Darby – Chris Mavinga – Daniel Ayala – Robbie Threlfall – Steven Irwin – David Amoo – Emmanuel Mendy – Nabil El Zhar – Damien Plessis – Alex Kacaniklic

Subs: Jay Spearing – Martin Hansen – Gerardo Bruna – Daniel Pacheco – Victor Palsson

Remember, you can’t watch the club’s promising reserves live anywhere else, so make sure you’ve signed up for an e-Season Ticket to see the game.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv

Fellow scholars Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom also played 90 minutes.

The trio were among the shining lights of this year’s FA Youth Cup run, which ended in disappointment at the fifth round stage last week.

England’s next game in the Algarve Tournament is against Ukraine on Sunday.

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv