AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool claim 3-0 victory at Southampton in Premier League 2

Efforts from Lewis Koumas and James Norris - with an own goal by Zach Awe in between - earned the points in Hampshire for Barry Lewtas' Reds, as they continued their unbeaten start to the new campaign.

The visitors opened on the front foot on the south coast and grabbed the lead in the sixth minute thanks to a well-worked high press.

Koumas closed down the Saints defence inside the opposition box following a low clearance, seeing his resulting deflected effort fall into the far corner of the net.

Southampton responded as Terence Miles was forced to intervene with Dom Ballard threatening in behind the defence.

Isaac Mabaya proved a handful for the home side down the right flank, though it was the Saints striker who went closest as he saw a dipping shot fly past the post from the edge of the area.

Jay Robinson and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan both threatened for Southampton from distance, but it was Liverpool who found a second goal before the half-time break.

Melkamu Frauendorf darted down the right wing and delivered low into the area, with his cross turned into the net by retreating centre-back Awe to give the Reds a two-goal cushion at the interval.

PHOTOS

By Chris Moorhouse and Robin Jones

Southampton began the second half with momentum as they looked to haul themselves back into the contest.

Marcelo Pitaluga was forced into his first real action of the evening as Ballard raced forward, with the Liverpool stopper throwing himself down low to his left to tip the effort wide.

At the resulting corner, Frauendorf broke at pace in search of a third for the Reds, though his bursting run ended with his shot flying high and wide of the net from a tight angle.

Tom Hill and James McConnell were both restricted to shots from range as Pitaluga again stood firm to block away another driven Ballard effort to keep his clean sheet intact.

The goalkeeper then later smothered another Saints attack in the latter stages as Liverpool attempted to manage the end of the contest with the advantage.

The visitors, though, recorded a third goal in added time to seal the spoils, with Koumas cutting the ball back from the right wing to Norris, who emphatically curled a shot into the net to close out the evening.

TEAM

Liverpool U21s: Pitaluga, Mabaya (Pilling, 59), Scanlon, Stephenson, Miles, McConnell (Pinnington, 90), Frauendorf, Hill (Spearing, 82) Cannonier (Davidson, 46), Norris, Koumas.

Unused sub: Kelly.

NEXT UP

The Reds will next return to Premier League 2 action on Sunday September 3 at the Academy in Kirkby.

Middlesbrough are the visitors to take on Lewtas' squad on Merseyside, with kick-off set for 2pm BST.