Rochdale played out a dramatic 3-3 draw with Liverpool's under-21 side in their Jersey Mike's Trophy group stage opener on Tuesday night. The match saw a late flurry of goals after Liverpool had played with ten men for over an hour.
Devante Rodney opened the scoring for the hosts in the 37th minute, but Will Wright equalised for the young Reds just before half-time. Veteran forward Ian Henderson then struck twice in the second half, first with a clever flick and then a delicate chip from outside the area, to put Rochdale 3-1 up. Despite being a man down after Mor Talla Ndiaye's 21st-minute red card, Liverpool staged a remarkable comeback with goals from Ben Trueman and Josh Sonni-Lambie deep into stoppage time.
The visitors went on to win the penalty shootout 7-6 to secure a bonus point. The result provides a positive note for Rochdale, who currently sit 17th in League Two with seven points from seven games. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws, and one defeat from their last five outings.
The long-term sponsorship by Jersey Mike's runs until 2030/31, aligning with the community-focused nature of the tournament. Rochdale now turn their attention back to league action and an away trip to face Fleetwood Town this Saturday at Highbury Stadium.
More detail at Rochdale AFC
