Liverpool u18’s v Blackburn u18
Davies, Mabaya, Chambers, Stephenson, Scanlon, Frauendorf, Miles, Pilling , McConnell, Cannonier, Blair.
subs,
Roberts, Hewitson, Koumas, Gymiah.
Liverpool 3-0 ht
Chambers, Blair and Pilling with the goals.
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Cannonier hasn’t scored yet??? SELL HIM!
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A dominant first half proved the key for Liverpool U18s as they ran out 3-1 winners over Blackburn Rovers in the sunshine at Kirkby on Saturday.
The contest pitted the second-placed Reds against their third-placed rivals but the result rarely looked in doubt from five minutes in.
An early penalty from Luke Chambers sent them on their way, before goals from Harvey Blair and Tommy Pilling gave them a comfortable three-goal lead at the break.
The visitors reduced the deficit with a spot-kick of their own early in the second half, though they never seriously looked like getting anything more out of the U18s Premier League North contest.
Blackburn started early with a high press but it was the Reds who created the chances.
A good cross from James McConnell almost delivered an early goal for Blair but the winger just couldn’t find the right finish at the back post.
The Reds didn’t have to wait long, however, for the first goal to arrive.
A corner from the right was delivered into the box, where centre-back Terence Miles was wrestled to the ground. Chambers stepped up to send Aidan Dowling the wrong way from the penalty spot with five minutes on the clock.
Just four minutes later and the lead was doubled in simple fashion. Striker Oakley Cannonier turned provider with a fine ball across goal for Blair to turn it home with the minimum of fuss.
The Reds were dominating the ball and goalkeeper Harvey Davies was a spectator for lengthy periods as his team controlled play in the middle of the park.
A lovely team move just prior to the half-hour mark ended with Cannonier hammering a fine shot into the net, though the flag was up to deny him.
Ten minutes from the break and the hosts’ dominance was rewarded with a third goal, Tommy Pilling drilling home a fine low effort from 25 yards out that had Dowling scrambling helplessly across his goal.
Rovers finally stirred, Adam Caddick curling an effort on goal that Davies was well behind.
Instead, it was the Reds who should have stretched their lead before the break.
First, Blair found Cannonier in front of goal and his backheel was only narrowly wide in what would have been a lovely finish.
The final minute of the half saw Cannonier brilliantly win possession and instantly send Blair through on goal, but he dragged his effort just past the post with just Dowling to beat.
Blackburn looked a different team in the second period, with Ashley Phillips bringing a good early save from Davies.
Liverpool lost James McConnell to injury and the visitors grabbed a possible route back into the game on 53 minutes when Isaac Mabaya brought down Phillips in front of goal. Dominik Biniek fired his penalty straight down the middle to beat Davies.
Liverpool went into game management after that as they looked to keep their improved opponents at bay.
Melkamu Frauendorf brought a save from Dowling after a good high press won the ball and he tried to beat the ‘keeper low at his near post.
Captain Luca Stephenson, who moved to centre-back in the second half, brought the final real save of the game with five minutes left, working a position from a short corner and delivering a curling effort on goal that Dowling tipped over.
Liverpool U18s: Davies, Mabaya (Koumas, 73), Scanlon, Miles, Chambers, Stephenson, Frauendorf, Pilling, Cannonier, McConnell (Roberts, 48), Blair.
Unused substitutes: Hewitson, Gyimah, Pennington.
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Liverpool U23’s V Man U U 23’s
KO 2pm
Pitaluga, Beck, Koumetio, R.Williams, Bradley, Clayton, Clarkson, Morton, Norris, L.Stewart, Bearne.
Subs,
Balagizi, Kelly, O’Rourke, Wilson.
2-1 ht, og and Williams.
Edit Bearne made it 3-1 FT.
Liverpool U23s signed off their Premier League 2 season by beating Manchester United 3-1 at the Academy.
Owen Beck forced the opening goal in the early stages of Sunday’s clash and though the visitors temporarily levelled through Alejandro Garnacho, it was the young Reds’ day.
Rhys Williams restored their lead before the interval and Jack Bearne then assured three points in the second half for Barry Lewtas’ team, who climbed to fourth in the table.
With Pepijn Lijnders and Vitor Matos in attendance in Kirkby, Liverpool took the lead in the sixth minute as a result of Beck’s high press.
The full-back’s charging down of a clearance by United saw the ball strike him and bounce back beyond Radek Vitek into the opposition net.
With the early momentum behind them, the Reds swiftly went after a second goal and Beck came close to creating one when he moved onto Tom Clayton’s pass to the flank and sent in a low cross that was cleared away from the line by Will Fish.
Layton Stewart threatened next with a turn inside the box and finish that the No.9 flashed across the face of goal, but it was United soon celebrating.
The visitors launched a counter-attack with a ball knocked over the top for Garnacho to chase and he coolly placed a dinked effort over Marcelo Pitaluga to level.
The hosts had a golden chance to get back in front on the half-hour as a Tyler Morton shot was handled inside the United area, only for Vitek to produce an excellent save, diving to his right, to deny Leighton Clarkson from the spot.
But Liverpool did bag their second in the 33rd minute.
Clarkson was its creator with a corner delivery from the left-hand side and Williams’ magnificent climb inside the box allowed the centre-back to head home.
The Reds carried the 2-1 lead into the second half but their momentum was checked by an injury to Billy Koumetio in its early stages.
The defender slipped and landed awkwardly as he looked to deal with a ball in behind, and had to be stretchered off as treatment was given.
Koumetio’s replacement, James Balagizi, could have extended their advantage when Conor Bradley overlapped down the right and lifted a cross to the back post, but headed over.
Lewtas’ charges got their third on 64 minutes, though.
Morton won possession from United and threaded a pass into the right channel for Bearne, who picked out the bottom corner with a clinical finish.
Pitaluga was largely untroubled as the contest neared its conclusion, though the Brazilian did make an impressive late stop to deny Noam Emeran and preserve Liverpool’s cushion.
The result increased the U23s’ unbeaten run to 10 games and prepared them nicely for the season’s conclusion: the Lancashire FA Senior Cup final against Burnley on Wednesday night.
Liverpool U23s: Pitaluga, Bradley, Beck, Williams, Koumetio (Balagizi, 55), Clarkson, Morton, Clayton, Norris, Bearne, Stewart (O’Rourke, 71).
Unused substitutes: Kelly, Wilson.
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Ben Woodburn
Luis Longstaff
Jack Bearne
Elijah Dixon-Bonner
The contracts of these lads are up in the summer. Wonder will any be given new deals. Fidel O’Rourke was given a new one has he is the same age as the lads so she doesn’t seem to be a factor.
Liverpool u 18’s away to Newcastle
Davies, Mabaya, Miles, Chambers, Scanlon, Balagizi, Stephenson, McConnell, Blair,
Cannonier, Clark.
Subs,
Pilling, Hewitson, Roberts, Osbourne, Koumas.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
Clark and Blair with goals assists Miles and Scanlon. Latest score.
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Chambers 0-3
Blair 0-4
Koumas 0-5, FT
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Congratulations to Oakley Cannonier, who officially finishes as the top scorer of the U18 Premier League today with 28 goals in 26 games. 
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That U18 side has been together for a couple of seasons now so there will be big changes to the team next season.
Harvey Davies, Fabian Mrozek, Lee Jonas, James Balagizi, Luke Chambers, Melkamu Frauendorf, Luca Stephenson, Harvey Blair, Oakley Cannonier and Matuesz Musialowski will all age out into the U23 squad.
The backbone of the next U18 XI will probably be Hewitson, Mabaya, Miles, Scanlon, Pilling, McConnell and Clark.
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No doubt Derby were desperate for the money.
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Yeah I’d say so aswell. Probably good business for both of us though, could save us a fortune if he reaches his potential
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Liverpool U18s ended their 2021-22 season in fine style with an emphatic 5-0 win away at Newcastle United on Saturday morning.
Already guaranteed a second spot finish in the U18s Premier League North, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side took their final goal tally to 106 in all competitions.
Bobby Clark netted the opening goal against his former club after just eight minutes before Harvey Blair doubled the advantage just before the half-hour mark, with a close range finish from Calum Scanlon’s excellent low cross.
Luke Chambers added a third just after the break with a superb free-kick before Blair pounced again to make it 4-0.
Louie Koumas then came off the bench to score his first goal at U18 level with almost his first touch since entering the field.
For Clark it took his tally up to 13 goals in his debut season with the Academy while Blair ended with 14.
Reflecting on the win, Bridge-Wilkinson told Liverpoolfc.com: “The lads did really well.
"With it being the last league game of the season with not a lot to play for, their attitude was really good.
“We performed really well and scored some really good goals, could have scored more, and it was a nice way to end the league campaign.”
Liverpool U18s: Davies, Mabaya, Scanlon, Miles, Chambers, Stephenson, Blair, McConnell, Cannonier, Balagizi (Pilling, 61), Clark (Roberts, 61, Koumas, 78).
Subs not used: Osborne, Hewitson.
Max Woltman signs new contract with the club.
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