With an injury-ravaged first-team pinching a number of common starters at under-18 degree, a younger Reds facet exited the FA Youth Cup by the hands of Leeds within the quarter-final.
Leeds U18s 3-1 Liverpool U18s
FA Youth Cup Quarter-Last, Elland RoadFebruary 29, 2024
Targets: Chadwick 35′, 70′, Lane 53′; Kone-Doherty 89′
It has been fairly the week for Liverpool’s academy, with one inspiring story after one other, injecting a feel-good issue all through the complete membership.
And that can have reverberated right down to the U18s, who can have watched their mates realise their desires the earlier evening at Anfield.
With Jurgen Klopp nonetheless counting on quite a lot of the membership’s children within the first-team, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was with out the likes of Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas, Trey Nyoni and Amara Nallo at Leeds.
The younger Reds had a promising begin however did see a transparent handball shout waved away by the referee in Leeds‘ penalty space, whereas Trent Kone-Doherty was crowded off the ball on his spectacular one-man drive.
However an unlucky mistake in his field from captain Josh Davidson led to Leeds opening the scoring, along with his determined try to make up for the error on the goal-line arising agonisingly brief.
Half time: Leeds U18s 1-0 Liverpool U18s
Liverpool have been clearly lacking a focus up high and struggled to maintain any assaults on Rory Mahady in Leeds‘ aim, however the hosts had no such downside on the different finish.
Simply eight minutes into the second half, Leeds established a two-goal buffer with a free header on the again put up, with the Reds’ defence not shifting over in time to intervene.
The link-up play between DJ Esdaille and Kieran Morrison on Liverpool’s proper confirmed loads of promise, their bursts of acceleration giving Leeds one thing to consider.
The younger Reds, who have been watched by Steve McManaman on the bench, confirmed loads of battle all through, although, and Kone-Doherty’s well-timed end within the 89th minute received them on the scoreboard, albeit too late.
Leeds had already prolonged their benefit to a few, and thus a late rally was not sufficient to e book a spot within the semi-final towards Millwall.
TIA Man of the Match: Kieran Morrison
Liverpool: Misciur; Esdaille (Gyimah 63′), Pitt, Pinnington, Davidson; Kelly (Onanuga 46′), Laffey, Pennington; Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Ahmed (Younger 73′)
Subs not used: Corridor, Enahoro-Marcus, Sonni-Lambie, Bradshaw
Subsequent Match: Middlesbrough (A) – U18 Premier League – Saturday, March 9, 1pm (GMT)
