AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool suffer defeat at Manchester United

Jay McEvoy hit the target twice for United during the first half to put them in control of the U18 Premier League North game at the interval.

The Reds remained in it, though, and the final period of play was in the balance when Joe Bradshaw halved their deficit just past the hour.

But a quickfire late double from JJ Gabriel, including a penalty kick, ended any hopes of completing a comeback for Simon Wiles’ side.

United threatened quickly at Carrington, with Noah Ajayi skipping to the left byline and squaring the ball into the box with three on the clock.

Louie Bradbury was waiting to meet that pass but his first-time effort bobbled harmlessly wide of the post.

There was no such mercy from the home team on 18 minutes, however, as they clinically established a lead.

Junior Brown’s thread through to the perimeter of the Liverpool area set up McEvoy and he rifled a finish inside the right-hand post.

The Reds’ response in the aftermath included a driving run from La’more Lee Forrester from the left that was belatedly snuffed out by Rafe McCormack.

But United, and McEvoy, doubled their tally on the half-hour. The No.8 bounced a one-two with Jim Thwaites and opened up his body to plant a second goal past Bailey Hall.

Liverpool had yet to truly lay a glove on the hosts, then fashioned two excellent chances back-to-back in added time.

Erik Farkas’ reverse pass served in Lee Forrester on the left of the box and his attempt to curl a finish into the opposite corner drifted wide.

Seconds later, Lenix Conde’s lofted cross from the right flank fell to AJ Yeguo at the far post. His driven hit rolled off target.

The Reds carried that momentum across to the start of the second half, with Harvey Owen shaving the outside of the right post with a glanced header.

It continued to ebb and flow freely in the sunshine and when the next goal did arrive, it was a Liverpool scorer.

In the 63rd minute, a low corner kick from the left went uncleared in the near-post region and Bradshaw pounced on the loose ball to tap in from yards out.

United immediately countered and Brown was found with space to exploit in the right channel, though his strike was caught comfortably by Hall.

The Reds exerted pressure with a prolonged spell of patient possession as time ticked away but the opposition moved clear late on.

On 81, Haydn Murray-Holme tripped Amir Ibragimov in the area and Gabriel dispatched the penalty into the right corner for 3-1.

United goalkeeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes foiled Lucas Clarke as he tried to turn in Oliver O’Connor’s cross, before Gabriel added a somewhat harsh fourth.

Team

Liverpool: Hall, Conde (O’Connor, 60), Owen (Ayman, 60), Cisse, Clarke, Upton, Bradshaw, Eden, Lee Forrester (Murray-Holme, 60), Farkas (Hickman, 77), Yeguo.

Unused sub: M. Wright.

Next up

The U18s are back in action on Saturday (May 2), hosting Middlesbrough in the league.

Kick-off at the Kirkby Academy is 12.30pm BST and the game will be shown live on All Red Video.