AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool beaten 3-1 at home by Leeds United

Joe Bradshaw was on the scoresheet for the young Reds at the Kirkby Academy when he made it 1-1 following the opener from Callum Mills.

But Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side were unable to recover again after Freddie Lane restored the visitors' lead, which was later increased by Harvey Vincent's penalty.

It was not a surprise to see Leeds go in front with the bright start they had made.

They nearly took a lead inside two minutes but Prince Cisse blocked on the line to keep out Kenneth Mensah's tap-in and Emmanuel Airoboma cleared away the danger.

Their dominance led to the breakthrough in minute 19 with Mills' controlled volley past Bailey Hall following a lift into the penalty area by Josh Hamilton.

Liverpool's response was a good one, seeing Josh Sonni-Lambie drag a shot just wide before the equaliser arrived. Oliver O'Connor delivered an in-swinging corner to the back post, where Bradshaw was stationed to head beyond George Kenyon.

There was an end-to-end finish to the opening period but it was Leeds who entered the break ahead, their full-backs combining as Lane finished hard and low from the edge of the box off Will Firth's cut-back.

The Reds' challenge ultimately became insurmountable when their deficit doubled early in the second half through Vincent's spot-kick after he was brought down inside the area by Hall.

They refused to give up, however, as Sonni-Lambie went close on two occasions prior to the final whistle being blown.

Team

Liverpool: Hall, Cisse (Evers, 68), Williams, Airoboma, Enahoro-Marcus (Owen, 46), O'Connor, Bradshaw, Ayman (Ahmed, 60), Sonni-Lambie, Onanuga, Martin (Lonmeni, 46).

Unused sub: Bernard.

Next up

Liverpool must quickly dust themselves off as on Wednesday afternoon they meet Reading in the semi-finals of the U18 Premier League Cup.

The tie at the Academy gets under way at 12pm GMT and will be shown live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.