AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool beaten by Crystal Palace in Premier League 2

Dean Benamar gave the Eagles an early lead at the Kirkby Academy on Sunday but Kieran Morrison quickly levelled after an opposition error.

However, Tyler Whyte rapidly restored their advantage and Charlie Walker-Smith put them clear a minute into the second half.

A disappointing afternoon for the Reds was compounded late on as Kaden Rodney (penalty) and Jemiah Umolu netted too.

Liverpool goalkeeper Armin Pecsi had already made a big save to deny Palace before their seventh-minute opener, pushing a Zach Marsh header off the line from Benamar’s looping cross.

The visitors soon got in front, though, as Benamar deftly chested down an arrowed pass over the top and went through to clip past Pecsi one-on-one.

Liverpool were virtually handed their equaliser with 11 on the clock as Palace ’keeper Harry Lee passed the ball straight to Morrison inside his own box. The home captain composed himself and tucked in his finish.

Chances continued to flow and Pecsi spread himself superbly to foil Marsh just prior to the away team regaining the lead.

The Reds were unable to clear a set-piece delivery from the right flank and the ball landed kindly for Whyte to prod over the line from yards out.

Rob Page’s side were struggling to reproduce the kind of fluent attacking play seen so much in recent months.

Palace, by contrast, were maintaining consistent pressure – with a particular threat from set-pieces – and Pecsi made two more routine saves before half-time.

A double change when the players returned for the second period saw Joe Bradshaw and Mor Talla Ndiaye introduced for Liverpool.

But their hopes of mounting a comeback were reduced within a minute of the restart. Walker-Smith found space from a corner and glanced in a header for 3-1.

The Reds might have struck back during a positive subsequent spell, with two chances created by the intelligent crossing of Morrison on the right.

Josh Sonni-Lambie clipped a first-time volley just off target and then Will Wright stretched well at the back post to send the ball at goal, only for Lee to block.

Pecsi gloved away a 20-yard drive by Whyte and appeared to get fingertips on a deflected Matteo Dashi rasp from the edge of the area.

The Liverpool goalkeeper’s impressive efforts continued as he reacted quickly to claw away Ben Casey’s low curler after he stole the ball from Calvin Ramsay.

But Palace’s pressure told in the closing stages, adding two more goals to their tally.

Their fourth came from the penalty spot, Kyle Kelly having brought down Joseph Gibbard. Up stepped Rodney to fire into the top left corner despite a Pecsi touch.

Umolu made it 5-1, dispatching a rebound when Casey – having been fed through from deep – was the latest to be thwarted by Pecsi.

Team

Liverpool: Pecsi, Ramsay, Pinnington (Ndiaye, 46), Nallo, Pitt, Kelly (Laffey, 80), Morrison, Pilling, W. Wright, Sonni-Lambie (Ahmed, 80), Onanuga (Bradshaw, 46).

Unused sub: Misciur.

Next up

Liverpool will now await confirmation of their opponents in the end-of-season play-offs, with the regular campaign across the league to finish on April 17.