U18 Premier League North

Liverpool 10 (Cannonier 7’, 15’ 66’, 81’, Chambers 21’, Jonas 24’, Clark 40’, 69’, Musialowski 58, Scanlon 62’)

Leeds United 3 (Spencer 13’, Thomas 56’, McGrath 60’)

Liverpool: Hewitson (GK), Davidson (Osborne 30’), Scanlon, Jonas, Chambers, Stephenson (C), Musialowski (Gymiah 62’), Pilling, Cannonier, Mabaya, Clark. Subs not used: Mrozek, Pennington, Giblin.

Leeds: Ombang (GK), Diboe (Douglas 90’), Godden, Spencer, Toulson, Buchan, McGrath, Coleman (C), Andreucci (Picksley 46’), Thomas, Carole (Wilson 82’). Subs not used: Bird, Loma-White.

Venue: AXA training centre

Booked: Pilling (Liverpool) Coleman, Toulson (Leeds)

Scott Gardner’s side were well beaten on a tough afternoon on Merseyside. The Whites came into this game off the back of a 6-1 win against Burnley, whereas their opponents Liverpool were on a six-game unbeaten run.

The hosts started the game well and were enjoying plenty of possession. They found themselves 1-0 up inside six minutes courtesy of the league’s top-goal scorer Oakley Cannonier. Leeds lost possession and this allowed Liverpool to counter-attack, Mateusz Musialowski slipped Cannonier through on goal and he finished into the bottom right corner.

Leeds responded well to going behind and equalised just minutes later. A good run from Ronnie McGrath saw him fouled on the edge of the box. Morten Spencer stepped up to take the free-kick and he whipped it into the back of the net, wrong-footing the keeper.

It didn’t take long for Liverpool to restore their lead, though. Cannonier intercepted a misplaced pass at the back, and he had plenty of time to pick his spot and finish past Darryl Ombang.

On the 20-minute mark the hosts were awarded a penalty after a handball in the box. Luke Chambers took the spot-kick and placed it in the bottom left corner, sending Ombang the wrong way.

Shortly after, Liverpool made it 4-1. A deep corner from Chambers found Lee Jonas at the back post and he headed it into the net.

The hosts extended their lead and made it 5-1 just before half time. A low cross from Isaac Mabaya found Bobby Clark all alone and he tapped into an empty net from a few yards out.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 5-1 Leeds United

Leeds started the second half better and pulled a goal back just short of the hour mark. Good pressing from McGrath forced the hosts into a mistake at the back. The ball fell to Luca Thomas and he calmy went around the keeper and finished from a tight angle to keep his fine goal-scoring record up. 

Liverpool hit straight back just two minutes later. Clark found Musialowski in acres of space on the right-hand side and his powerful low effort found the bottom corner leaving Ombang with no chance.

From kick off Leeds attacked straight away and were awarded a penalty of their own. McGrath weaved his way into the box and was brought down. He stepped up to take the penalty himself and slotted it into the bottom left corner sending ‘the keeper the wrong way.

Liverpool put to bed any chances of a Leeds comeback just minutes later as they made it 7-3. Good play down the right-hand side from Clark meant he found space to pull a cross back to Calum Scanlon, who was unmarked at the back post and tapped it home.

The hosts didn’t stop attacking and made it 8-3 shortly after. Mabaya fired a ball into Cannoniers feet, he took a touch and hit a powerful half-volley into the bottom right corner, completing his hat-trick.

Liverpool then made it 9-3. A clearance from Scott Godden was blocked by Clark and the ball found itself in the back of the net leaving Ombang with no chance, very unfortunate for the Whites on a tough afternoon.

Cannonier added his fourth of the game in the latter stages. A ball across the box was only cleared as far as the striker and he converted the opportunity. This result leaves Leeds United 9^th in the league, ahead of their fixture with Sunderland next week.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 10-3 Leeds United