AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool produce brilliant cup comeback to beat Crystal Palace

The young Reds were 2-0 down inside 18 minutes of the Group G clash but began a spirited comeback soon after, with Josh Sonni-Lambie, Scofield Lonmeni, Kareem Ahmed and Joe Bradshaw (two) on the scoresheet.

Charlie Walker-Smith opened the scoring for the hosts in the sixth minute before their lead was doubled by Jesse Derry from the penalty spot.

The fightback, however, started with Sonni-Lambie converting from Clae Ewing's assist when 23 minutes were on the clock.

Lonmeni netted the equaliser as Sonni-Lambie turned the provider and Ahmed then gave the visitors a 3-2 lead to take into the half-time break.

Sonni-Lambie saw a 54th-minute spot-kick saved by Marcus Hill but Liverpool's lead would eventually be increased by the pair of strikes from Bradshaw.

Reflecting on the win, U18s boss Marc Bridge-Wilkinson told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was a good performance, we went 2-0 down early on, but for the first time in a while I think the boys finally got it and it seemed to click.

"We performed really well for most of the game, the last 10 minutes aside, so it was a good day for us.

"I was really pleased with the character we showed. The team ethic was very good and there was nobody out there who played for themselves today and it shone through."

TEAM

Hall, Esdaille, Pitt, Enahoro-Marcus (Cisse, 90), Ewing (Evers, 67 (Furnell-Gill, 77)), O'Connor, Ayman, Ahmed, Bradshaw (Martin, 89), Sonni-Lambie, Lonmeni.

Unused sub: Bernard.

NEXT UP

Bridge-Wilkinson's team are next in action on Saturday October 26 when they host Sunderland in U18 Premier League North.

Kick-off at the Academy is scheduled for 1pm BST and the game can be watched live on LFCTV GO.