Liverpool starlet issues dressing room apology to teammates but earns manager's sympathy

Luca Stephenson is yet to make his first-team debut for the Reds but is gaining valuable experience on loan in Scotland with Dundee United

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin singled out on-loan Liverpool youngster Luca Stephenson for praise after the young defender recovered from the disappointment of conceding a late penalty against Motherwell by winning a spot-kick of his own in the Tangerines' incident-packed 3-3 draw at Kilmarnock.

Stephenson was punished for a clumsy tackle on Moses Ebiye in the closing stages as United exited the Premier Sports Cup in the quarter-finals last weekend. But the defender did not appear to let that episode affect his confidence in an all-action display at Rugby Park on Saturday.

He set up Louis Moult for the opening goal with a precise cutback, before drawing the foul from Killie's Fraser Murray deep into added time to rescue a William Hill Premiership point for his side.

United led 1-0 at the break but found themselves 3-1 down as David Watson grabbed a double and Marley Watkins headed home. However, Craig Sibbald's long-range strike got the visitors back into the game and Ross Graham levelled in the ninth minute of added time after Stephenson was fouled.

United boss Goodwin said: "With the penalty, it's clever from Luca Stephenson to get himself goal side of the Kilmarnock defender, who is ball watching a bit and there is contact with his left calf which leads to the penalty.

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"Stephenson held his hands up in the dressing room after that rash decision at Fir Park last weekend (to give away a penalty). Nobody in their career has probably done it as much as I have so I have every sympathy for him but he's man enough to own up to it.

"The players and the staff all got round him and picked his head up and he showed a positive reaction today. We've got to remember the boy's age as well and where he's come from. He's had a great education at Liverpool and we're hoping to continue that. He'll learn from situations like that and games like today are important moments in all the players' careers as well."

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