AcademyU21s match report: Late leveller earns Liverpool point against West Ham

In front of the watching Arne Slot, Virgil van Dijk and Sir Kenny Dalglish, an own goal apiece for either team saw the points shared at the Kirkby Academy.

The Reds enjoyed the opening chance of the game with Ranel Young bursting in on goal, though he was denied by goalkeeper Olanrewaju Awesu.

The ball then fell in the box at the back post to Trey Nyoni, who cut inside from the left to curl a shot on goal and draw another strong save from the visiting stopper.

James McConnell - who was forced off in the opening half an hour due to a facial injury - was next to go closest, sprinting forward to shoot over the bar from outside the box.

Nyoni, meanwhile, forced another stern save from Awesu in a first half of little action in either final third.

After the break, Liverpool threatened again, Lee Jonas freeing Tommy Pilling down the left flank, with the latter drilling a low effort wide from a tight angle.

However, in minute 68 it was West Ham who stole the advantage via a Reds mistake at the back. Isaac Mabaya's pass to goalkeeper Harvey Davies evaded the stopper and found its way into the back of the net to hand the visitors a lead.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Keyrol Figueroa thought he had levelled with a charge down on goalkeeper Awesu.

The forward blocked a clearance and the ball looped towards goal, but appeals that the chance had crossed the line were waved away by the match officials.

Liverpool responded as Nyoni was kept out once again after being released forward by Kieran Morrison, while Carter Pinnington saw a header from a corner kick saved and scrambled away.

West Ham's Emeka Adiele was then dismissed in the third minute of stoppage time for a second bookable offence.

And Barry Lewtas' Reds produced a leveller with 95 on the clock to earn a deserved point. A free-kick swung into the box by Morrison found its way to Lewis Orford, who inadvertently turned home into his own goal via a header.

Team

Liverpool: Davies, Mabaya, Jonas, Pinnington, Nallo, McConnell (Laffey, 30), Kone-Doherty, Nyoni, Young (Ngumoha, 63), Morrison, Pilling (Figueroa, 79).

Unused subs: Misciur, Spearing.

Next up

The Reds will take on Brighton & Hove Albion next in Premier League 2 on Sunday April 6, with Liverpool travelling to the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre in a 4pm BST kick-off.