Match reportReds beat Rangers 4-1 to extend Youth League winning run

The young Reds followed up victories against Napoli and Ajax in Group A courtesy of goals from Oakley Cannonier, Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah and Luke Chambers that highlighted an impressive display at the Academy on Tuesday afternoon.

It leaves Barry Lewtas’ side in command of the section at the halfway stage, with a return fixture away at Rangers next up a week tomorrow.

Liverpool made an assured start amid the rainy conditions in Kirkby, though their early control of possession did not stop the visitors from producing the first real chance.

A neat passing exchange along the right flank allowed Ross McCausland to guide in a cross to the box for Robbie Ure, who may have been marginally offside as he flicked a diving header wide.

Melkamu Frauendorf had been finding plenty of space from his position on the left of the attack and he saw a low drive deflected wide by Lewis MacKinnon before the Reds surged into a strong lead.

From the resulting corner on 23 minutes, Quansah leapt highest to power a header at goal that transformed into an assist when Cannonier stooped to redirect the ball into the net.

The Liverpool No.9’s fifth strike in the competition this season was almost instantly added to as he stole the ball with Jacob Pazikas lining up a kick at the edge of his penalty box. Cannonier lifted his finish over the goalkeeper just the wrong side of the right post, though.

Nevertheless, the Reds’ advantage was doubled moments later.

Slick play along the left-hand side presented Bobby Clark with an opening to shoot from 20 yards. His curler thudded off the far post and Doak, the former Celtic player, controlled and lashed the rebound in from close range.

Doak threatened another as Liverpool’s pressure continued to build, the attacker thwarted by Robbie Fraser’s block after smart footwork inside the area. James McConnell’s rising follow-up drifted too high.

Pazikas had to repel a series of attempts ahead of the break and the pause did nothing to quell the Reds’ momentum, with a deflection required to prevent Doak converting as he cut inside and struck in the 54th minute.

But there was a sense of déjà vu when Dominic Corness’ subsequent corner delivery was met by Quansah, the hosts’ captain getting in front of his marker and this time emphatically heading it into the bottom corner.

Chambers was not too far away with a swerving hit from outside the box, while Rangers began to exert themselves as the leaders’ tempo eased heading towards the game’s end.

Their best chance came to Zakariya Lovelace, found by McCausland’s deep cross from the right, and his well-executed volley was parried by Harvey Davies in the Reds goal.

Frauendorf and Doak were then denied by Pazikas as Liverpool’s ascendancy returned but there was still to be a goal apiece to conclude the contest in stoppage time.

Chambers further extended the home team’s lead when he broke forward from full-back and dispatched an angled finish, before Rangers substitute Connor Young seized on a half-cleared cross to drive home a last-kick consolation.

Liverpool U19s: Davies, Mabaya (Miles, 71), Chambers, Quansah, Jonas, Corness, Clark, McConnell, Doak, Frauendorf (Kone-Doherty, 85), Cannonier.

Unused substitutes: Hewitson, Koumas, Hayes-Green, Young, Gyimah.