Morgan double downs Arsenal
Adam Morgan's impressive brace sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Arsenal for Liverpool U21s at Anfield on Monday evening.
The youngster's double - coupled with a ferocious strike from Krisztian Adorjan - was enough to secure the vital win as Alex Inglethorpe's side responded to their defeat to Tottenham in exemplary circumstances.
The result now sends the Reds into second place in the Barclays U21 Premier League.
Liverpool enjoyed the brighter start to proceedings and fashioned two opportunities shortly after the 10-minute mark.
Jordon Ibe slotted a deft pass through to Morgan but Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny anticipated the danger and swiftly ran out to block the striker's first-time effort.
Moments later, full-back Ryan McLaughlin surged down the right flank before powering a dangerous effort from long range that fizzed narrowly wide.
The Reds' early momentum did not cease as Ibe and Morgan combined to much better effect in the 24th minute to send the home side into a deserved lead.
The influential Jonjo Shelvey slid the ball through to the energetic winger, allowing Ibe to pull it back to Morgan - who cleverly side-footed the ball across Szczesny and into the far corner of the net.
Despite their dominance, the Reds were stung by Arsenal just two minutes later when the visitors levelled matters in slightly fortuitous circumstances.
Sead Hajrovic met a pass towards the back post with a header that ricocheted kindly into the path of Chuba Akpom. The frontman reacted immediately and drilled a shot beyond the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Danny Ward and into the corner of the net.
With little over five minutes remaining in the first period, both sides threatened to take a morale-boosting lead into the break.
Kris Olsson played an incisive through ball to Hector Bellerin, who hesitated before hitting a low shot that was prevented by the trailing leg of Ward.
As the half drew to a close, Shelvey skipped away from Isaac Hayden before firing a typically powerful shot that just soared over the crossbar.
Just as the Reds did in the opening 45 minutes, Arsenal began the second half in lively fashion.
Thomas Eisfeld weaved his way into Liverpool's box before being foiled by Ward as the goalkeeper blocked his effort before only the woodwork prevented the Gunners minutes later.
Akpom was the provider on this occasion as he laid the ball across to Nico Yennaris, and the captain curled a shot beyond the diving Ward but his attempt crashed off the post.
On the hour mark, Morgan came painfully close to doubling his and Liverpool's tally when some improvisation nearly paid dividends for the youngster.
The striker met a pass from Shelvey with a first touch that inadvertently set him up for a volley that flew agonisingly wide.
Less than a minute later, Adorjan fired Liverpool in front yet again.
The Hungarian relentlessly charged through the Gunners backline before powering an unstoppable drive into the far top corner.
Unfortunately for the Reds, their lead lasted just a minute longer than the previous time as Serge Gnabry's exquisite finish brought the visitors back on terms again.
A midfield scramble resulted in the ball rolling into the path of the German, who quickly dragged the ball away from danger before calmly chipping over Ward and into the net from 25 yards.
An intense encounter ensued as both sides fought for the lead they craved before Morgan heroically sent the Reds a goal up on a third occasion.
With less than a quarter of an hour remaining, Suso freed Adorjan down the right flank. The 20-year-old instinctively whipped a cross towards the back post that the predatory Morgan met to tap into a gaping net.
Liverpool battled valiantly for the remainder of the match and restrained Arsenal to no further clear chances as they ran out deserved winners.
Reds team: Ward, McLaughlin, Roddan, Sama, Wisdom, Coady (c), Suso, Shelvey, Morgan, Adorjan, Ibe (Peterson 85).