U18s suffer Stoke reverse
Liverpool U18s' unbeaten run was brought to an end with a 4-1 defeat by Stoke City at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday.
Goals from Charlie Ward and Nathan Ricketts-Hopkinson handed the visitors a lead, which was reduced by a pinpoint Harry Wilson finish midway through the second period.
But Ricketts-Hopkinson grabbed his second of the match with a composed volley before Kris Scott registered with a simple tap-in to complete a disappointing day for Steve Cooper's team.
Daniel Trickett-Smith, twice on target against Spurs earlier this week, could have had four goals on Saturday morning within the opening 10 minutes as Stoke struggled to cope with the Liverpool attack.
First the forward capitalised on a defensive error in the fifth minute with persistent pressing to generate an opportunity, but his low side-foot towards goal was blocked by Dale Eve.
The visiting goalkeeper then denied Trickett-Smith's curler from distance and parried another attempt from a rebound, while the former Crewe man thrashed a strike wide in between times.
The Potters responded after 20 minutes and should have been ahead through Scott, who was afforded time and space in a central area but directed a weak shot straight at Ryan Fulton.
Fulton was beaten a minute later, though. Jordan Rossiter mistimed a sliding tackle on Ward in the Liverpool penalty box and the Stoke man produced a sublime, Panenka-style dink into the net.
Rossiter, aiming to make amends for his earlier mistake, was impressive at both ends and went close with a drilled, rising effort after winning possession in the middle of the park on 36 minutes.
Ryan Kent and Alex O'Hanlon linked up smartly at the edge of the Stoke area as the opening period drew to a close and the former's blast goalwards was crucially deflected wide for a corner.
In the final minute of the half, Eve prevented Trickett-Smith from registering on the scoresheet once again - tipping a fierce attempt over the bar to ensure Stoke entered the break in front.
Ricketts-Hopkinson broke clear of the home defence just seconds after the restart, strode forward beyond a succession of challenges and poked a finish beyond Fulton for 2-0.
Cameron Brannagan worked Eve before a wicked Wilson left-footer finished wide of the right post. Wilson did reduce the arrears midway through the second half, curling a sumptuous strike into the top corner from range.
Hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed on 72 minutes, however, as Ricketts-Hopkinson latched onto a cross and cushioned a neat volley past Fulton to restore Stoke's two-goal advantage.
The Potters extended their lead even further as Cooper's boys looked for a way back into the clash, with Scott making the most of freedom at the back post to slot home a simple finish.
Reds team: Fulton, Burke (Roberts), Maguire (Quirk), Whelan, Heaton, Rossiter, O'Hanlon, Brannagan (Robles), Trickett-Smith, Kent, Wilson.