With Gareth Taylor’s side looking to build on last month’s opening group win against Southampton, Skipper Cole Palmer fired City into a deserved lead right on the stroke of half time.
And the young Blues then stretched our advantage after the break thanks to further strikes from James McAtee, Alex Robertson and Andrew Ijiwole to take a huge step towards sealing top spot in the group.
What happened
Despite the incessant rain on Merseyside there was no lack of action in an incident-packed first 45 minutes with City seeking to take the game to the hosts at every opportunity.
Gareth Taylor’s side carved out the first opening on 12 minutes when the dangerous Edozie powered down the right before whipping in a cross which Norris cleared at the back post
On 20 minutes Palmer then timed a pin-point through-ball to perfection to Edozie, and the winger then arrowed in a powerful shot but Liverpool keeper Jakub Ojrzynski denied him with a superb save.
The hosts looked to hit back and twice threatened through Tyler Morton in as many minutes.
On the half hour Luke Mbete-Tabu produced a superb tackle to deny Morton and moments later the Liverpool striker unleashed a spectacular overhead kick which Slicker gathered.
The end-to-end action continued as Liverpool keeper Ojrzynski pulled off another stunning save to deny Palmer for a second time after McAtee’s ball split the Liverpool defence.
Right on the stroke of half-time however City’s pressure was eventually rewarded.
Edozie was again the outlet, powering down the left flank before fizzing in a cross which Palmer skilfully guided home to give the young Blues the first half advantage.
Seven minutes after the restart we had doubled our advantage.
A slick breakaway move from the Blues saw us open up a three on one numerical advantage and Palmer timed both his run and pass to perfection as he found the waiting McAtee who gratefully applied the finish.
With City’s tails up, Taylor’s charge further cemented our grip on the game with a third goal on 58 minutes.
A swift passing exchange found Alex Robertson loitering on the edge of the box and the midfielder drilled home an excellent low drive.
Wright-Phillips and Edozie was inches away from notching up a fourth before substitute Andrew Ijiwole rounded off a fine display by firing home via Remi Savage’s deflection for our fourth goal deep in stoppage time.
How we lined up
Cieran Slicker was in goal shielded by a back four of Kwaku Oduroh, Finley Burns, Luke Mbete-Tabu and Oscar Tarensi. CJ Egan-Riley. Alex Robertson, James McAtee and D’Margio Wright-Phillips were all deployed in midfield with Cole Palmer and Sam Edozie up-front.
What it means
City are top of Group D with six points from our first two matches. Liverpool have three from two while Southampton and Swansea, who meet later today, have yet to register a point.
What’s next
Gareth Taylor’s side are next in action on Saturday November 9th, when we play host to United in the Under-18 Premier League Manchester derby. Kick-off at the CFA is 11am.
