Match reportLFC U18s draw 1-1 with Luton in Academy friendly

Tommy Pilling’s unstoppable 42nd-minute strike had given the Reds a lead that they threatened to build upon, but Luton cancelled out the deficit through Millar Matthews-Lewis during the second half.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side struggled to find their flow during the opening period in Kirkby and it was the visitors who produced the better chances.

Reds goalkeeper Luke Hewitson was needed to make one particularly impressive point-blank save and Luton also had an effort disallowed for offside.

But Liverpool got in front shortly before the interval courtesy of a moment of pure quality from Pilling.

Ranel Young’s trickery down the right flank was the genesis of the move and when his cross into the box came out to Pilling more than 20 yards from goal, he sent the ball whistling into the net for 1-0.

The Reds made a more authoritative start to the second half and another incisive Young run on the wing saw him pick out substitute Jayden Danns free in the middle, but his low shot was saved well.

Trent Kone-Doherty then troubled Luton along the other side of the pitch, spinning away and cutting inside only to be thwarted by another good stop.

But the away team got back on level terms just before the contest’s three-quarter mark, a cross from the left finding Matthews-Lewis in space to guide a header beyond Hewitson.

Neither team was able to produce a winner in the time remaining and Liverpool now begin preparations for next Saturday’s league trip to Everton.

Liverpool U18s: Hewitson, Davidson, Gyimah, Samuels, Miles, Pilling, Young (Giblin, 70), Laffey, Koumas (Danns, 46), Kelly (Pennington, 65), Kone-Doherty.