Liverpool youngsters still worrying Klopp

Liverpool Under-18s were beaten by Leeds United in an entertaining match at Thorp Arch on Saturday.

20/08/2022, 08:10 PM +00:00

Liverpool were beaten by Leeds United in an entertaining match at Thorp Arch on Saturday. Ben Doak scored a fine goal for Liverpool Under-18s but Leeds goals from Max McFadden and Charlie Crew in the opening minutes of the second half had already sealed the game. Lewis Koumas had a header cleared off the line, while winger Doak was a constant threat to the hosts.

Doak came close to salvaging a point on a couple of occasions but could not save the Marc Bridge-Wilkinson side, whose next U18s Northern Premier League North fixture is a home encounter with Manchester United next Saturday. They could have taken the lead in the opening minute but Trent Kone-Doherty pulled his shot back after Koumas had set himself and the chance went begging. The game was exciting and McFadden soon showed his finishing ability with a fierce shot from outside the box that crashed against the underside of the crossbar.

More Liverpool news:

Kone-Doherty had a moment of brilliance when he broke free of his markers on the halfway line before driving towards goal with intent, only to finish when a pass might have been the better option. Hewitson was again instrumental in thwarting Marley Wilson shortly before half-time, but Leeds came out after the break with real purpose and by the 50th minute they had scored twice.

Doak

In the first of the goals, McFadden beat Hewitson from an angle after an intricate combination inside the box, and then Crew scored after a Leeds fast break. Doak put Liverpool back on level terms, and a right-to-left shot ended with Leeds goalkeeper Darryl Ombang saving his shot. Hewitson had to keep out McFadden to restore the home side's two-goal lead, and the young Reds keeper stooped low to deflect a tap-in.

Terence Miles headed in a McConnell corner and Doak crashed an effort into the side-netting in the closing minutes, but the visitors were denied an equaliser. Liverpool Under-18s: Hewitson, Osborne, Gyimah, Miles, Hayes-Green, Onanuga (Pennington, 79), McConnell, Young (Figueroa, 79), Doak, Kone-Doherty (Laffey, 54), Koumas (Giblin, 90). Substitute not used: Morana.