Match reportLayton Stewart hat-trick helps U21s down Wolves

Substitute Oakley Cannonier also struck twice at the Academy for Barry Lewtas’ side – scoring his first goals since stepping up to the age group – to make it seven games unbeaten in league action.

The Reds continued their recent good form on home soil and almost took the lead inside five minutes as Jake Cain played in Mateusz Musialowski, though his shot was saved well.

Wolves then produced a goalline clearance to keep the scores level, with Bobby Clark picking out Musialowski in the box before his lobbed effort was kept out by the retreating Kamran Kandoola.

Melkamu Frauendorf also forced an impressive save from Andreas Sondergaard, but Liverpool finally got their goal five minutes ahead of the interval as Stewart found the back of the net.

Cain produced some lovely play down the right and showed great vision to find the striker, who finished brilliantly into the bottom corner.

Following the change of ends, Stewart posed a threat again and had a second with Dominic Corness picking out his run superbly in the area to allow a great touch and finish.

The forward then completed a hat-trick with the pick of his goals as Liverpool capitalised on a poor clearance that left the striker to clip the ball home from 25 yards out.

Cannonier replaced his fellow front man and picked up where Stewart left off, making his presence felt thanks to a fine finish from outside the box to add a fourth.

In the closing minutes, he then bagged the Reds’ fifth and his second of the encounter by turning home a low Clark cross from the left-hand side to seal the spoils.

Liverpool U21s: Mrozek, Stephenson, Quansah, Jonas, Norris, Cain, Corness, Clark, Frauendorf (Chambers, 64), Musialowski (Doak, 83), Stewart (Cannonier, 79).

Unused subs: Kelly, Spearing.