Free-scoring U18s put four past Baggies
Neil Critchley's U18s side took their tally to 75 goals for the season with a convincing 4-2 win over West Bromwich Albion at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday morning.
Prior to kick off in the tie, which began at 11.07am as a mark of respect for the 96 supporters who lost their lives at Hillsborough, both sets of players observed a minute's silence.
Once the action was underway, the tricky Ryan Kent handed Liverpool a lead after 21 minutes following a surging run by Jerome Sinclair through the heart of the Baggies' defence. The ball fell to Kent, who smashed home for 1-0.
The away side were level just after the half-hour mark when Jonathan Leko pounced. A slip at the back from Daniel Cleary let in Joe Ward, who squared for his teammate to finish and the scores were even.
However, Spanish starlet Sergi Canos restored Liverpool's advantage before the break when he coolly converted a penalty after being fouled by Tom Smart in the area. The youngster stepped up calmly to send the 'keeper the wrong way.
A big turning point in the game arrived early on in the second half when Andre Wright missed an open goal for the visitors. Within moments, down at the other end, Kent had added his second goal of the game from the penalty spot after he was impeded in the box.
On 62 minutes, Liverpool made it 4-1 when man of the match Alex O'Hanlon fired home with his trusty left foot after great approach play from Sheyi Ojo, who linked effortlessly with Canos.
Reece Wedderburn fired a brilliant consolation goal for the Baggies, driving home from an acute angle, but the young Reds were too strong as they held out for three points.
In a further boost for Critchley, Harry Wilson made his return from injury as a second-half substitute.
Liverpool U18s: Firth, Waldron, Hart, Maguire, Cleary, Chirivella, Canos (Wilson), O'Hanlon (Virtue), Sinclair (Trickett-Smith), Ojo, Kent.