U18s fall to Arsenal loss
There was frustration for Liverpool U18s as they lost 2-1 to Arsenal in their opening game of 2013-14 in London on Friday morning.
After an impressive pre-season hopes were high for the Academy side going into the game, but a trip to Arsenal was always going to be a tough opening fixture.
The Gunners took the lead after 21 minutes when Tom Dallison met a well worked free-kick to fire home, but Liverpool deservedly levelled on 42 minutes when Nathan Burke fired a superb goal from 25 yards out.
Five minutes after the restart Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty when Connor Randall was fouled but the appeal was turned down by the referee.
The home side then took the lead after 69 minutes when Ainsley Maitland-Niles fired home.
U18s coach Mike Garrity told Liverpoolfc.com: "We did well and it could have gone either way to be honest.
"The only time Arsenal stretched us in the second half was when they got the goal and we could easily have had a penalty.
"Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football but there were lots of positives for us to take."
Liverpool team: Ryan Crump, Connor Randall, David Roberts, Dan Cleary, Tom Brewitt, Nathan Burke, Ryan Kent, Adam Phillips (Louis Robles), Daniel Trickett-Smith (Darius Whaldron), Sheyi Ojo, Sam Hart. Unused subs: Andy Firth, Jack Alexander, Matthew Virtue.
Liverpool U18s are next in action on Saturday, August 24 when they take on Everton in the mini-derby at the Academy - watch live on LFC TV and LFC TV Online from 11am BST.