Kent double helps U21s defeat Everton

A brace of strikes from distance by Ryan Kent and a late Sheyi Ojo penalty earned the young Reds a deserved second win over the Blues in 2015.

The local rivals were each keen to play some expressive football during the early exchanges, taking full advantage of the quality and expanse of the pitch at the first-team venue.

Mere minutes had passed when Connor Randall edged forward in support on the right and was teed up to power toward the near post, drawing a smart stop from the goalkeeper.

Sergi Canos soon set off on an exhilarating dribble all the way along the right flank, though it was ultimately futile in terms of end product and Everton suddenly assumed control.

Their exertion of pressure told after 23 minutes.

Stationed near the left touchline, Ryan Ledson was afforded too much space to ping a diagonal cross toward the far post, where Harry Charsley pounced to tap home yards out.

But the response from the young Reds was immediate and the equaliser one of sublime technique.

Kent rolled around Ledson with a dummy that removed the midfielder from the equation, strode forward and sensed an opportunity to send a side-footer into the bottom corner with unerring accuracy for 1-1.

Liverpool perhaps should have been in front as Samed Yesil completed a one-two and bounded into the danger area, but the German striker scuffed his finish at the near post.

The contest was flowing along at a great tempo and next it was the Blues' David Henen threatening by cutting in from the wing and whipping an effort just too high over the crossbar.

Into stoppage time at the end of the first half, Everton 'keeper Russell Griffiths kept the score level, palming out a Yesil finish from close range after Harry Wilson found his teammate free in the box.

Five minutes had elapsed of the second period when Wilson created a chance out of nothing.

Fed the ball at the left corner of the area, the Welshman flicked it with the back of his foot to eliminate his marker totally - only to thrash well off target upon closing on Griffiths.

As the hour mark passed, Michael Beale had the luxury of introducing both Ojo and Jerome Sinclair to his forward line as Liverpool sought three points to maintain their title chase.

The former could have been forgiven for wondering how nobody latched onto a teasing delivery he clipped along the six-yard box which no Blues defender wanted to make contact with.

It was forgotten on 70 minutes, however.

Because Kent made another decisive contribution, this time attacking into the middle from the left and lashing a swinging hit from distance into the net off the right hand post to put the travellers ahead.

The stunning strike injected fresh impetus into the young Reds and before long they had established a cushion on the other side of Stanley Park.

A rapid counter-attack saw Ojo tumble under a challenge from Sylvain Distin and the 17-year-old got back up to take responsibility. He was coolness personified 12 yards out too, firing high past the 'keeper.

Ryan Fulton preserved the advantage with impressive stops from Calum Dyson and Jonjoe Kenny, as Liverpool moved to within two points of top spot in the Barclays U21 Premier League.

Liverpool U21s: Fulton, Whelan, Maguire, Randall, Cleary, O'Hanlon, Canos (Sinclair), Brannagan, Yesil (Ojo), Kent, Wilson (Trickett-Smith). Unused substitutes: Firth, Madger Gomes.