Match reportU18s suffer defeat to Man City in Premier League Cup
Liverpool U18s were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City in their final group game of the U18s Premier League Cup on Saturday.
Goals in either half from Will Dickson and Liam Smith at the Academy secured the three points for the visitors and top spot in Group C.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's Reds will now hope to progress through to the quarter-finals of the competition as the best runner-up, based on points amassed and then goal difference.
There was a flying start to this cup encounter, played in blustery conditions in Kirkby.
Both goalkeepers were forced into saves inside the opening 180 seconds, before City took advantage of an error at the back from the hosts.
Dickson accepted a loose pass back from full-back Josh Davidson, with the City frontman then rounding Fabian Mrozek and tapping into an empty net after five minutes.
Liverpool, to their credit, responded well to the early setback.
Melkamu Frauendorf was denied by City stopper Josh McNamara on two occasions throughout the remainder of the first half, with Isaac Mabaya also seeing a long-range effort kept out.
City could have doubled their advantage prior to the break but Smith's shot struck the post and the ball bounced clear.
Frauendorf was presented with another opportunity midway through the second half, though fired straight at McNamara from the edge of the box.
But as Liverpool continued to search for a route back into the game, City hit them with a potent counter-attack. Smith made no mistake on this occasion and concluded the breakaway with a calm finish beyond Mrozek in minute 70.
The Reds were unable to find a way through their opponent’s rearguard and had to settle for second spot in the group with six points.
Liverpool U18s: Mrozek, Davidson, Lucky, Chambers, Scanlon, Bajcetic, Mabaya, Pilling, Laffey (Koumas, 63), Frauendorf, Cannonier.
Unused substitutes: Davies, Kelly, Figueroa, Pennington.