City secure U18s PL Cup quarter-final spot with Liverpool win

Goals from Will Dickson and Liam Smith either side of half-time in a dominant performance from the Young Blues was enough to ensure we go through as group winners.

WHAT HAPPENED

Ben Wilkinson‘s side were greeted with strong, windy conditions on Merseyside, so an early goal would be crucial to asserting control in the game.

And that is exactly what City got when, just five minutes in, striker Dickson found himself free inside the box and made no mistake by clinically guiding the ball past Fabian Mrozek. 

The away side remained firmly in control of the game throughout the first period, adapting well to the tricky conditions on Merseyside, restricting the home side to few opportunities, while being able to break through their high press with relative ease. 

And we could have doubled our lead when winger Liam Smith found himself through on goal, striking a left-footed effort against the woodwork, meaning we had to settle for a one-goal lead going into half-time.

Following the break, City again had a great chance to double our advantage, when some nice link-up play down the right with Adedire Mebude gave Rico Lewis some space inside the area. The full-back lashed at goal but it was palmed away by Liverpool keeper Mrozek. 

City kept knocking on the door in search for a second, with Liam Smith and Mebude consistently posing a threat down the flanks. 

And we eventually doubled our lead when Nico O’Reilly picked the ball up from Kian Breckin inside our own half, driving forward before sliding the ball through to Smith who fired home a wonderfully work goal past Mrozek. 

HOW WE LINED UP

Josh McNamara lined up in goal, with Lewis (captain), Jadel Katongo, Issac Smith and Tomas Galvez making up the defensive backline. 

In midfield, Wilkinson named Mo Susoho and Kian Breckin with Nico O’Reilly providing a link to the strike force, made up of Adedire Mebude, Smith and striker Dickson. 

WHAT IT MEANS

With a win and a draw against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively in our opening two Premier League Cup games, this win over Liverpool means City have now guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup. 

UP NEXT

It is not long until we see the U18s back in action, as they will take on Nottingham Forest in the U18 Premier League at the City Football Academy next week. 

Kick-off is at 1pm (UK) on Wednesday 1 December.