Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. The match ended in a 2-2 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Nearly five months after his last outing, Liverpool youngster Marcelo Pitaluga has returned to title-winning Macclesfield in a star appearance.
Pitaluga was sidelined for three months with an ankle ligament injury while on loan at Macclesfield, his return being quite welcome at Liverpool.
Four appearances for Liverpool Under-21s and regular first-team appearances on match days suggest the young Brazilian goalkeeper has severed ties with the non-League home team. But Saturday delivered a surprise comeback for Pitaluga against Macclesfield, days after securing status as Northern Division One West Premier League champions.
The champions faced City of Liverpool FC in the 35th game of the league campaign, 138 days after a 2-1 loss to Runcorn Linnets in November.
And the 20-year-old put in a stellar performance as Macclesfield beat their Merseyside rivals 5-0, including a Nicky Maynard hat-trick.
??Which is Marcelo's 12 clean sheets this season for the Silkmen? pic.twitter.com/hg2GGV2QNG
– Macclesfield FC (@thesilkmen) April 9, 2023
Pitaluga played the full 90 minutes and kept his 12th clean sheet in 24 games this season, conceding just 17 goals in that span. There were a number of key saves, including saving substitute Danny Mitchley twice within three minutes of the second half.
It remains to be seen whether Pitaluga will play again for Macclesfield this season, with only two games left, having been dropped from their squad to face Hanley Town on Monday.
Saturday wraps up Prescot Cables' visit ahead of Mossley's campaign on April 22.
The youngster will likely split his playing time between Macclesfield and Liverpool in the coming weeks, with four games remaining for the Under-21 side.
This includes Saturday's Merseyside derby, ahead of games against West Ham (April 22), Fulham (April 30) and Crysal Palace (May 6). Liverpool are expected to submit a larger loan to Pitaluga this summer amid rumors of permanent offers from AC Milan and Atletico Madrid.
However, he could be promoted to the first team under Jurgen Klopp, with Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian both likely to leave this summer.
Harvey Davies is another option to leave the academy, while The Athletic's James Pearce hinted on Sunday that Adrian "could sign another short-term contract extension".
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