Match reportLiverpool U18s close out campaign with victory over Newcastle United

Goals from James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and substitute Elijah Gift ensured a winning finish for the Reds to see out the 2022-23 season in Kirkby.

McConnell struck for Liverpool inside the opening minute of the contest following brilliant work by Calum Scanlon down the left flank.

The full-back delivered an inch-perfect cross for the midfielder to power a header home inside the six-yard box and cap a whirlwind start.

Liverpool added a second in just the sixth minute in clinical fashion, with Koumas bursting through the Newcastle defence to meet another Scanlon ball and finish calmly past onrushing goalkeeper Aidan Harris.

The visitors attempted to assert pressure in response as home goalkeeper Luke Hewitson was forced into action on several occasions.

Keyrol Figueroa was proving a nuisance down the right, though the Reds were unable to add to the lead ahead of the interval, with the No.7 flashing a shot over the bar from outside the area in added time.

Substitute Gift was the first to test Newcastle stopper Harris down to his right side following his half-time introduction, curling an effort goalwards from distance.

However, the attacker produced a clever run and finish a short while later to add a third for the hosts, shooting low into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Liverpool continued to dominate possession and the game, with Koumas and Terence Miles both going close.

With 13 minutes remaining, though, Newcastle got themselves on the scoresheet, as defender Lucas Pitt inadvertently turned a cross into his own net.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side remained unfazed in the closing stages in the aftermath of the goal, working a number of scoring opportunities as they saw out the contest with relative ease.

Liverpool U18s: Hewitson, Miles, Scanlon, Furnell-Gill (Samuels, 45), Pitt, Davidson, Figueroa (Gift, 45), McConnell, Koumas, Kelly (Pennington, 62), Danns.

Unused subs: Trueman, Gyimah.