U18s Report: City 1 Liverpool 2

The Reds opened the scoring early in the first half when Pedro Chirivella bundled the ball home from close range, but the Foxes responded positively, and got themselves on level terms when Danny Rowe raced clear to fire a low shot past the goalkeeper. 

However despite City looking to push on for a winner, it was Liverpool that claimed it with 20 minutes remaining when substitute Jerome Sinclair rolled an accurate finish into the far corner from 12 yards. 

The young Foxes had started the game brightly, with Matthew Miles continuing his excellent form from last week’s trip to Newcastle United with several high quality set pieces – unfortunately Simonas Stankevicius’ header whistled wide of the post from one on five minutes. 

The Lithuania international continued to cause the Reds’ back line problems in the early stages, but after he saw two close range shots blocked, Liverpool struck clinically on the breakaway to edge ahead. 

Powerful striker Sheyi Ojo benefitted from a couple of ricochets on the right, and with just one red shirt to find in the box, he put in an accurate cross that Pedro was able to nudge past City’s Liam Sharpe. 

Eddy Samba rallied the troops in midfield and was at the heart of much of City’s good work in attack, but his thunderous 25 yard drive was saved by the Liverpool ‘keeper as half time approached. 

Peake’s side continued their ascendency into the second half, and their reward was a brilliantly taken goal from Rowe to get them back on level terms. 

Miles spotted a perfectly timed run from the young attacker and found him with a clever through ball, but with work still to do, Rowe kept his cool to calmly slide a shot across the goalkeeper and into the corner. 

In an enthralling game, both teams were intent on finding a winning goal, but unfortunately for City, it was the visitors who were able to find the decisive breakthrough. 

A ball came into the box and found the feet of Reds substitute Sinclair, and despite being off-balance, he was able to produce an instinctive finish with his right foot to squeeze the ball through a crowd of bodies for 2-1. 

Sharpe made an outstanding double save shortly afterwards from Pedro and Sinclair to keep his side in the match, and with their final clear-cut opportunity of the game, City very nearly salvaged what would have been a deserved point.

The lively Rowe brilliantly beat his man on the right flank, but his driven ball across the box was just beyond a swarm of incoming blue shirts, leaving the Reds to hold on for all three points. 

Next up for City’s Under-18s is a trip to face Stoke City on Saturday 12 April (KO 11am).