AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool close out 2024 with 4-2 win at home to Wolves

First-half goals from Josh Sonni-Lambie and Luca Furnell-Gill set the Reds on their way but Mateus Mane responded just before the break for the visitors.

Joe Bradshaw stretched the hosts' lead to two again 20 minutes into the second half, though substitute Jake Wilcox headed Wolves within one again in stoppage time.

It was left to Bradshaw to secure the clincher even later with a beautiful lob over the goalkeeper after being sent away one-on-one by a superb Sonni-Lambie pass.

Liverpool dominated the ball and the chances in a first half where they really should have enjoyed more than a one-goal advantage.

Rio Ngumoha had the first shot as early as the second minute, goalkeeper Josh Gracey pulling off a decent low save.

Bradshaw flashed a great cross across goal but it eluded the red shirts in the middle as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side started well.

There was a let-off for captain Lucas Pitt, who passed a ball straight to Mane, who fired home – but the referee had blown for an earlier infringement.

Wolves threatened again just after the quarter-hour mark when Minkyu Ji's free-kick grazed the outside of the post.

But it was mostly Liverpool dominating, a corner finding Ngumoha in great space but his shot was once again saved by the impressive Gracey.

It was a brief reprieve for Wolves, with the Reds going ahead shortly afterwards on 23 minutes.

Sonni-Lambie did brilliantly in the middle of the pitch and sent a great ball out to Bradshaw on the wing. His cross fell to Ngumoha, whose shot was saved but Sonni-Lambie was on hand again to tap home the rebound.

And Liverpool stretched their lead just after the half-hour mark from a clever set-piece routine.

A short corner was played to Bradshaw, whose cross was headed home by Furnell-Gill for a two-goal advantage.

A fine run off his wing from Bradshaw almost created a third as he found Sonni-Lambie in space in the box, his effort hitting the post before Ngumoha's rebound was saved by Gracey.

Cam Williams was back at left-back and played a fine ball down the line to put Ngumoha away into the box but his effort was deflected into the side-netting.

Bailey Hall denied Mane as the half ticked to a close but the Reds failed to heed the warning and the same player was sent away to finish clinically for a 2-1 half-time score.

Mane was still a threat in the second period and ran past several players before being finally blocked out as Wolves sought an equaliser.

But it was Liverpool who stretched their lead to two again on 64 minutes as Bradshaw grabbed his first via a deflected shot following a Sonni-Lambie pass.

Lucas Clarke had arrived off the bench for Liverpool and the centre-back made an early impact as he cleared a header off the line, after a Wolves free-kick was headed back across goal.

Furnell-Gill should have grabbed a second goal with 12 minutes remaining but his free header from Williams' delivery was saved by Gracey once again.

Nguhoma deserved a goal for his relentless energy and he should have had it with three minutes left when he was sent away with just Gracey to beat but the goalkeeper continued his fine afternoon with a save.

Myles Dayman collected a second yellow card for Wolves on the stroke of full-time but the visitors still had time to pull a goal back, with Wilcox heading home a corner.

If that could have caused nerves among the home side, it didn't show and Bradshaw completed the scoring to continue his own fine form with a beautiful clip over Gracey from Sonni-Lambie's decisive pass.

Team

Hall, Cisse, Williams, Furnell-Gill, Pitt (Clarke, 57), Upton, Bradshaw, Onanuga (O'Connor, 46), Sonni-Lambie, Ahmed, Ngumoha.

Unused subs: Bernard, Lonmeni, Martin.

Goals: Sonni-Lambie (23), Furnell-Gill (29), Bradshaw (64, 90+5)

Next up

The U18s do not play again until 2025, with a trip to Nottingham Forest in the U18 Premier League their first outing of the New Year.

That game is scheduled for a 12pm GMT kick-off on Saturday January 11.