AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool beaten by Fulham in Premier League Cup

It was a tough scoreline on the young Reds with both teams going toe to toe in what was an absorbing encounter in Kirkby.

A superb solo goal from Trey Nyoni and yet another Jayden Danns finish had given Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s home side a 2-1 lead during the first half.

But Fulham were level by the break and stretched away in the second half, with Wellity Lucky’s injury-time header a mere consolation for Liverpool.

There were early signs of things to come as Keyrol Figueroa put in a dangerous cross for the hosts and Tom Olyott brought a low save from Kornel Misciur at the other end.

It was no surprise when the first goal arrived on 14 minutes, Callum Osmand’s low strike from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner to put Fulham ahead.

The Reds were back on terms within four minutes, however, and what a goal it was. Nyoni burst through defenders into the box at pace, beat another inside the area and stroked it home for a superb individual effort.

The summer recruit turned provider 10 minutes later to help put Liverpool in front. Nyoni’s pass over the top got Danns away and he rounded the goalkeeper to finish from a narrow angle, continuing his record of scoring in every U18s game he has played this season.

But the end-to-end stuff continued as Fulham equalised within two minutes, centre-back Jonathan Esenga curling home a free-kick with his left foot from a dangerous position on the edge of the box.

Nyoni continued to impress and his excellent pass put Afolami Onanuga in on goal 10 minutes before the break but the Reds’ midfielder just couldn’t get enough control of the ball to get his shot away.

Fulham hit the post twice and the crossbar before half-time, Misciur making a superb block to deny one rebound, as the game continued to be incident-packed.

The second half began with Figueroa scoring nicely in the bottom corner but the assistant referee had his flag up for an offside earlier in the move.

Ten minutes later, Lucky headed in Ben Trueman’s corner, only for the assistant to rule the outswinger had gone out of play before arriving into the area.

Fulham stirred and Misciur was needed to tip over Josh King’s shot on the hour, though he could do nothing two minutes later when Lemar Gordon’s powerful blast gave Fulham a 3-2 lead.

The contest was in the balance but it was the visitors who looked stronger now and when the ball was played to Olyott he was able to poke past Misciur and secure an important two-goal advantage with 16 minutes left.

The away team’s tally increased to five when substitutes Jayden Quashie and Chibby Nwoko combined for the latter to slide past Misciur.

It was a cruel scoreline for Liverpool, who kept going until the end and found a consolation in added time, Lucky’s header going in from Michael Laffey’s corner.

TEAM

Liverpool U18s: Misciur, Pitt, Gyimah, Lucky, Laffey, Trueman (Furnell-Gill, 68), Morrison (Pennington, 88), Onanuga, Danns, Nyoni, Figueroa (Bradshaw, 68).

Unused subs: Morana, Kelly.