AcademyLiverpool U18s fall to mini-derby defeat at Everton

Kyle Kelly got the young Reds’ goal in the 90th minute, but the damage had been done by strikes from Martin Sherif and Coby Ebere as the Blues came out on top in the U18 Premier League North mini-derby.

Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s attack was impacted by the absence of top scorer Lewis Koumas, who was missing after picking up a knock in training.

And goalkeeper Luke Hewitson was busy in the first half, making several excellent saves to limit Everton to a one-goal lead at the break.

Hewiston denied Sam Coughlan, Ebere twice and Sherif during the opening 20 minutes, before the young Reds began to find their feet.

Jayden Danns’ strike was deflected narrowly wide following good work from Ranel Young, with Trent Kone-Doherty and Francis Gyimah then linking up well down the left and the latter’s cross being palmed away by Blues ’keeper Dylan Graham.

But the hosts went in front when Sherif ran clear and finished after Kerron Samuels had been caught in possession.

Hewitson then thwarted Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Callum Bates in quick succession as Everton threatened to take the game away from Liverpool.

Bridge-Wilkinson’s team improved after the restart and Gyimah fired over the crossbar after he’d been fed by Tommy Pilling, before Kone-Doherty saw a shot deflect just wide.

Terence Miles then saw a goal-bound header cleared after Graham had failed to intercept a corner and, with four minutes remaining, an Everton counter-attack ended with Ebere scoring their second.

Kelly’s first goal for the U18s halved the deficit as stoppage time loomed but Liverpool could not force a late equaliser.

Liverpool U18s: Hewitson, Davidson, Gyimah, Miles, Samuels, Laffey (Pennington, 83), Young, Pilling, Danns, Kelly, Kone-Doherty (Gift, 80).

Unused subs: Morana, Giblin, Pitt.