U18s fire four past Wolves
Alex O'Hanlon's stunning brace helped to ensure that Liverpool U18s coasted to a resounding 4-0 victory over Wolves at the club's Academy on Saturday.
The youngster's double - coupled with devastating strikes from Jerome Sinclair and Harry Wilson - condemned the visitors in what was a comfortable encounter for the Reds.
The result represents the perfect response to Steve Cooper's side's unfortunate FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea on Friday night.
There was a distinct lack of opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, with both sides' defences thwarting any opposing attacks.
Despite the defensive solidity displayed by both Liverpool and Wolves early on, a flurry of attempts soon followed.
The Reds failed to fully clear the danger from a move by the visitors, allowing Tendai Matthyaoke to slide the ball through to Ibrahim Keita.
The towering striker had to stretch in order to prod a shot towards goal, although goalkeeper Ryan Crump expertly anticipated the danger and was equal to the strike, parrying his effort to safety.
Immediately after, pacy frontman Sinclair raced deep into Wolves' half before pulling the ball back to Wilson. The visitors' skipper, Ben O'Hanlon, had to be alert and throw himself in the way of the winger's stinging shot that was destined for the net.
The tense battle for the first goal continued and Wolves thought they'd broken the deadlock two minutes later, but they were deemed to have scored in unfair circumstances by the linesman.
Alister Browns met Keita's flicked pass with a well-timed volley past Crump, although their initial joy was cut short after Keita was flagged offside.
Liverpool compounded Wolves' misery when they struck legitimately in the 24th minute.
Ryan Kent's drilled cross found O'Hanlon on the edge of the area and the No.10 swiftly rifled a shot that deflected past the helpless Scott Dutton and into the corner.
The Reds did not allow their momentum to cease and Sinclair doubled their lead with an impressive solo effort on the half-hour mark.
The youngster breezed past multiple challenges in a crowded area before calmly sweeping the ball across Dutton and into the far top corner.
Liverpool came agonisingly close to extending their lead further when Adam Phillips skimmed the woodwork in added time.
The midfielder surged past several players before powering a 20-yard shot that clipped the outside of the post, an effort that Dutton struggled to dive close to.
Five minutes after the restart, Sinclair was unfortunate not to increase his and the Reds' tally.
Phillips played a perfectly weighted pass through to the striker but Dutton rapidly slid out to block Sinclair's low shot.
Liverpool's next attempt to find the net drew much greater results, shortly before the hour mark.
O'Hanlon was pivotal once again as the influential youngster laid the ball out wide to the onrushing Wilson in space.
The winger remained composed and side-footed into the top corner at the near post to hand the home side a comfortable three-goal cushion.
Wolves' troubles worsened when the combination of goalscorers, O'Hanlon and Wilson, came back to haunt the visitors.
A quick passing exchange between the pair on the edge of the area allowed O'Hanlon the space to slam an unstoppable effort past Dutton and into the far corner, making it a memorable afternoon for the Reds.
Reds team: Crump, Whaldron (Griffin), Hart (Roberts), Whelan, Heaton, Burke (c), Kent, Phillips, Sinclair (Robles), O'Hanlon, Wilson.