What happened...
City ran riot against a previously unbeaten Liverpool side with a 7-0 victory at the City Football Academy.
It was in the first half that the Blues did most of the damage with four excellent goals and a dominant passing performance.
City striker Joe Hardy got the ball rolling inside ten minutes with a neat finish from a tight angle just inside the Liverpool area.
The Blues pressed high on the nervous Reds defence throughout the first half and it paid dividends as Hardy won the ball and played in Phil Foden with the midfielder’s left footed strike sliding just inside the far post.
Composed centre back Joe Coveney picked out Luke Bolton moments later and the winger rounded Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara and tapped in to make it 3-0.
The first half scoring wasn’t done there as Hardy’s pace on the break got him to the byline before he picked out Foden and the midfielder tucked home for his second of the day.
Foden turned provider for Hardy shortly into the second half as City’s striker added his second with a cool strike from 18 yards.
The rout was completed in the closing minutes with two close range finishes from substitute Ian Carlo Poveda.
What it means...
Lee Carsley’s side have two wins and one draw from their three matches in the U18 Premier League so far.
The next match for the young Blues is away at Blackburn Rovers on September 10.
What they said...
Centre-back Joe Coveney: “We played them off the park. We’ve spent this week looking to keep a clean sheet because we already know how much quality we have on the ball.
“It’s always nice to get an assist. I’d like to say my teammates are used to seeing me play passes like that but their reaction says different!”
Key moment...
As City winger Luke Bolton and Liverpool goalkeeper Kamil Grabara thundered towards each other with the score at 2-0, the first touch would prove decisive.
A clearance from Grabara may have given Liverpool a boost but it was Bolton who reached the ball first and tapped home to effectively end Liverpool’s hopes.
Man of the match...
Joe Hardy – Pacey and direct, Hardy was the perfect outlet for the Blues looking to get in behind a Liverpool defence pressed high up the pitch.
Two goals and two assists for the striker suggests just how important he was to City’s success but in truth, everyone involved could lay a claim for the award.
How they lined up...
City made just one change from the side that beat Everton last week with Tom Dele-Bashiru replacing Matt Smith.
Goalkeeper Aro Muric was protected by Colin Rosler, Joel Latibeaudiere, Joe Coveney, Tyreke Wilson in defence. Ed Francis sat behind Tom Dele-Bashiru and Phil Foden in the centre of midfield. Luke Bolton, Jadon Sancho and Joe Hardy were the three-pronged attack.
Substitutes: Blackshaw, Anderson, Pozo, Beerman, Poveda
Liverpool XI: Grabara, White, Lewis, Masterson, Parker, Coyle, Adekanye, Hunter, Millar, Camacho, Dhanda
