Young Reds hit for six

Liverpool under-18s endured a difficult afternoon after a strong Manchester City side came from behind to win 6-2 at the Academy on Saturday.

Rodolfo Borrell's young guns took the lead courtesy of Tom Ince's early strike but were undone by four quick-fire second-half goals after Michael Roberts was sent off.
 
Nikola Saric did reply for the hosts but the last word was City's as they rounded off with two more to notch up six of the best.
 
The Reds had gone into the clash hoping to boost their morale following last week's defeat at Sunderland and they got off to the perfect start when they took the lead with their first attack of the match inside the opening minute.
 
A surging run from Chris Buchtmann took him into the penalty area and although his shot bounced back off the far post, Ince was on hand to cut in from the right and blast an unstoppable effort beyond Erik Johansen.
 
Michael Roberts then bounced a long range drive just wide as Liverpool took control in the early exchanges.
 
But City have an excellent reputation at Academy level and as the half progressed they began to show just why they are regarded so highly.
 
Chris Oldfield did well to keep out a thunderbolt from Ahmed Benali and he performed more heroics just shy of the half hour mark when City almost levelled.
 
A mistake by Matty McGiveron put Benali through and it looked like a certain goal when the City number eight unselfishly squared for John Guidetti. But Oldfield had other ideas and the striker saw his goalbound shot brilliantly saved before Andre Wisdom and McGiveron combined to hack the rebound off the line.
 
The away side were creating some good openings and Guidetti came within inches of nodding home Jeremy Helan's driven cross as Liverpool were forced into a rearguard action.
 
Wisdom, in particular, was enjoying an imperious game at the back and while City continued to look the more likely, the hosts almost doubled their advantage just before the break when Ince laid the ball into the path of Buchtmann, who dragged his strike just off target.
 
It had been a first-half of many positives for Borrell's side but they were continually forced back by City and when Roberts was dismissed just after the break, there was a sense of the inevitable about their equaliser on 53 minutes.
 
The ever-dangerous Helan again showed good skill down the left before sending over a cross for Guidetti to head home.
 
It was a goal that deflated the home side and four minutes later they were behind when Guidetti side-stepped a challenge in the Reds' area before teeing up Omar Ellabdoulali to tap home from six yards out.
 
By now City were oozing confidence and the third followed on the hour when Guidetti again crossed for substitute Juan Olle to steer in at the far post.
 
Liverpool kept plugging away but the visitors were well in the ascendancy and added a fourth soon after when Olle grabbed his second of the game after a City free-kick had ricocheted into his path.
 
At this point there seemed to be a goal scored from every attack and after Saric had given the Reds a glimmer of hope with a neat finish, City wrapped up victory through Harry Bunn's cool finish and a last-gasp strike.
 
Liverpool under-18s: Chris Oldfield, John Flanagan, Andre Wisdom, Jack Robinson, Matty McGiveron, Tom Ince, Nikola Saric, Chris Buchtmann, James Ellison (Michael Ngoo 54), Conor Coady, Michael Roberts. Unused substitutes: Stephen Sama, Deale Chamberlain, Michael Ihiekwe, Adam Pepper.