Young Reds rack up four at Anfield

Jack Dunn had given the home side an advantage in the 44th minute and, four minutes into the second period, the win was secured through an own goal and a superb header by Jordan Lussey.

Jordan Rossiter added further icing to the cake with a composed conversion at the conclusion of a remarkable passage of play following the half-time break - and it proved more than enough for the hosts.

From his advanced midfield position, Cameron Brannagan threatened to break the deadlock in the fifth minute, latching onto a Rafael Paez lob in behind, but his effort was sliced after a perfect first touch to take control.

Stephen Sama pulled a drive from the right flank wide, while at the other end Yusuf Mersin was briefly concerned by Jordan Cranston, who scurried inside two challenges on the left flank and struck a dipping shot off-target.

As the clock showed 20 minutes, Wolves defender Dominic Iorfa produced a crucial block to deny Liverpool - Kristoffer Peterson was denied after collecting a Lussey centre and powerfully dispatching goalwards.

Lussey thought he had opened the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark when he completed a clever one-two with Brannagan and clipped a low effort at the far corner from the edge of the area, but goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt reacted quickly to fingertip away.

With seconds remaining in the first half, the young Reds finally secured the lead they deserved; Dunn took possession in a central area, moved forward and thundered a ferocious shot from 25 yards beyond Flatt and into the net for 1-0.

Jordan Williams was introduced for his U21s debut at the break and Alex Inglethorpe's charges wasted no time at all in ensuring they would claim victory in front of watching first-team boss Brendan Rodgers.

Dunn's whipped cross from the right hand side was knocked into his own goal by Wolves man Iorfa on 48 minutes and, within 60 seconds, Lussey diverted an excellent delivery by Villyan Bijev with his head to extend the lead to three.

The Reds were dominant and before long, it was four; Rossiter joined the attack, drifted around a series of tackles and calmly side-footed the ball with his left around the goalkeeper to nestle into the Kop end netting.

Kristian Kostrna was unfortunate not to provide a consolation for the visitors, unleashing a rocket which travelled narrowly wide of the left post in the final 10 minutes, but the home side's clean sheet - and unbeaten record in 2014 - was preserved.

U21s team: Mersin, Sama (Williams), Maguire, Paez, Jones, Rossiter, Dunn, Lussey (Chirivella), Bijev (Sinclair), Brannagan, Peterson. Unused substitutes: Sokolik, Firth.