A quick-fire double on five and seven minutes from Thierry Ambrose and Sinan Bytyqi respectively gave the away side a commanding early lead.
Liverpool’s Adam Phillips reduced the deficit two minutes into the second period and levelled it up himself a couple of minutes later as the hosts caught the visitors cold after the break.
City showed great character to recover from the loss of their two-goal lead by restoring their advantage courtesy of Mathias Bossaerts’ header on 57 minutes and Jordy Hiwula made sure of the points ten minutes from time with the goal of the night: a stunning strike into the top corner.
Harry Wilson replied for the plucky Merseysiders but City held on, propelling Patrick Vieira’s side into joint second place in the Barclays u21 Premier League.
City EDS arrived in Merseyside looking to follow up on their first win of the league season over Norwich City last time out with another against one of the season’s early pace setters.
Last year’s u21 Premier League finalists Liverpool had won two and drawn one of their three games so far this term, so it never looked like being an easy game against a team who had inflicted defeat on City at Hyde last season.
Following his dream goalscoring debut for the first-team on the previous night, it was no surprise to find Jose Angel Pozo’s name missing from the teamsheet but Bytyqi was included from the start 24 hours on from his first appearance on the seniors bench at the Etihad Stadium for the Capital One Cup.
The Austrian youth international has stated a preference for playing in a central, attacking berth and, after taking his chance in the no.10 role against the Canaries with a two-goal man of the match winning performance a fortnight ago, he had earned his position behind Hiwula.
Ambrose started out wide, with Brandon Barker on the opposite flank, in front of a midfield three of Bytyqi, George Glendon and Olivier Ntcham.
George Evans and Kean Bryan are generally more accustomed to central midfield roles but they made up the centre-back partnership, in front of Ian Lawlor, with Mathias Bossaerts and Ashley Smith-Brown taking up the full-back positions on the right and left respectively.
City flew out of the blocks under the lights at Liverpool’s Kirkby Academy and fired themselves into a two-goal lead within seven minutes of the first whistle.
Moments after Sheyi Ojo spurned a presentable chance for the hosts, the away side countered, with Barker utilizing his searing pace to beat goalkeeper Danny Ward to a defence-dissecting through ball, before he passed inside for Hiwula, who unselfishly gave Ambrose a tap-in at the back post on five minutes.
Two minutes later, the advantage was doubled.
This time it was all about Bytyqi, who embarked on a driving run at the Liverpool back four and unleashed a precision left-footed finish from the edge of the area which kissed the inside of the post before it nestled into the back of the net.
Liverpool forced a couple of half chances in the intervening seven minutes but they had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the deficit down to two on 14 minutes.
Ward produced a stunning, instinctive save with his feet to prevent Ntcham’s thumping sidefoot from breaching his goal, following mesmeric footwork and the pick out from Barker on the left.
Liverpool had their moments in the opening half an hour but they couldn’t seem to live with Barker’s devastating plunders down the left side.
The England youth international went close to City’s third himself on 28 minutes but his left footed drive flashed past the post by inches, with the keeper beaten all ends up.
For the remainder of the half, the hosts prodded at the City backline in search of a response but it was all relatively comfortable for the visitors, who showed the greater menace when baring teeth in explosive breaks at the other end.
It was a vibrant, attractive half for the away side but it wouldn’t count for much if they allowed Liverpool a route back into the game after the restart.
There was little Vieira’s men could have done to keep out Phillips’ stunning 25 yard volley a minute into the second half but, fortunately, it smacked off the crossbar and flew over the top.
However, a minute later, Phillips made no mistake when the ball broke to him just inside the area after City failed to clear a cross as he ran onto the loose ball and drilled it past the stranded Lawlor - he repeated the trick couple of minutes later to draw the sides level at 2-2.
Liverpool’s relief was short-lived as Smith-Brown’s excellent cross from the left found an unmarked Bossaerts in the middle on 57 minutes and the Belgian did brilliantly to pick his spot and steer his header past Ward.
After that crazy start to the second half things settled down a little in the next 15 minutes but City were indebted to Smith-Brown for a heroic header off the line to prevent Samed Yesil from levelling oncemore with 17 minutes remaining.
It was to prove to be a pivotal moment as four minutes later, Hiwula put the result beyond any doubt with the best goal of the night.
Jordy received the ball 25 yards from goal, turned and crashed an unstoppable drive into the very top corner - look out for that one in September’s Goal of the Month compilation. It’s a shoe-in.
It was truly a goal worthy of winning any game but especially this one, played between two talented sides intent on playing the game on the front foot.
Harry Wilson set up a nervy finale with a late strike for Liverpool to make it 4-3 but Lawlor produced a great save at the death to deny Ojo and secure the points.
City u19s v AS Roma u19s
Many of the players involved in this encounter will feature in City u19s’ next UEFA Youth League encounter against AS Roma at Hyde on Tuesday afternoon at 2pm.
Make sure you’re there to give the lads the support they deserve after their stunning 4-1 match day one victory over Bayern Munich.
Ticket details to be confirmed here on the official site on Friday.
