Match reportLiverpool U21s beaten by Wigan seniors in second friendly

After an opening half-hour devoid of genuine scoring chances at DW Stadium, the home club’s greater experience began to tell with a flurry of goals either side of half-time.

Tom Pearce had dragged an early 20-yarder wide and Stephen Humphrys saw a turn-and-shot from the edge of the box stopped by Reds goalkeeper Liam Hughes as the visitors held their own in the initial stages.

But that parity was broken with 33 on the clock as Humphrys found space on the left side of the Liverpool area and clipped across goal for Callum Lang to convert from close range.

Within a minute, Lang clattered an effort off the right post when Wigan stole possession high up the pitch through Thelo Aasgaard and moved the ball into a shooting position.

The Latics did double their lead in the 36th minute, however. Pearce curled in an inviting cross that Tendayi Darikwa stretched to knock beyond Hughes.

Barry Lewtas’ Reds came close to striking back just before the interval, only for Jamie Jones to glove away a rising hit that Luca Stephenson caught really well from range.

And Championship outfit Wigan wasted no time in pressing home their advantage when the action resumed.

Pearce rifled home a clinical low finish four minutes after the restart and then James Carragher – son of Liverpool legend Jamie – met Max Power’s deep right-wing corner with a clever side-footer past Hughes.

Humphrys added his name to the scoresheet as the home team turned over possession in the Reds half, his strike from around 20 yards finding the bottom left corner via a slight deflection.

Wigan bagged a sixth and final goal of the evening at the game’s three-quarter mark, Jack Whatmough thudding a header high into the net from a free-kick delivery.

Liverpool U21s: Hughes, Stephenson (Lucky, 71), Corness, Trialist 1, Miles (Trialist 2, 59), Spearing (McConnell, 59), Bearne, Cain, Stewart (Pilling, 65), Cannonier (O’Rourke, 46), Musialowski (Blair, 71).

Unused substitute: Hewitson.