AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool suffer defeat away at Sunderland

A flurry of second-half goals from the hosts at the Academy of Light put the U18 Premier League North contest well beyond the young Reds.

There had been little work for either goalkeeper to do during the early stages, with Bailey Hall taking in a Tom Proctor effort from range before Charlie Dinsdale was off target at a distance.

In response, Afolami Onanuga had a strike on goal that Ben Metcalf handled – and the stalemate continued until half-time with a shortage of real threats.

That changed soon after the interval, however.

Proctor’s 49th-minute corner-kick delivery from the left-hand side carried all the way through to the opposite side of the net and gave Sunderland a lead.

The home team doubled their new advantage within moments, Marcus Neill taking possession from Reds goalkeeper Hall and converting into the exposed goal.

The blitz from Sunderland continued as Neill was then freed in behind before the hour mark and dispatched a finish beyond Hall.

Liverpool did respond, with Josh Sonni-Lambie on target within minutes of Neill’s second goal to give Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side more of a foothold.

And the visitors might have then further reduced their deficit to one – but Onanuga’s header from inside the area missed the target.

Instead, the hosts stretched their advantage with three more goals before the end. Liam Hunt produced their fourth of the day with a close-range rebound after Charlie Forsyth’s headed attempt from a corner was saved.

Sunderland almost immediately won a penalty, Joe Upton fouling Aaron Chungh in the box. Neill stepped up and successfully placed it to the left to complete his hat-trick.

Chungh subsequently made it six for his team with a rebound effort, and Liverpool’s disappointment in the north east was compounded when Upton received a second yellow card.

Team

Liverpool: Hall, Esdaille (Bradshaw, 60), Williams, Moran, Enahoro-Marcus, Upton, Ayman (Airoboma, 60), B. Trueman, Sonni-Lambie, Ahmed (Lonmeni, 85), Onanuga (O’Connor, 73).

Unused sub: Bernard.

Goal: Sonni-Lambie (59).

Next up

The U18s are back in action on Wednesday (April 16), hosting Manchester City at the Kirkby Academy in the league.

Kick-off is 11am BST and the game will be shown live on LFCTV GO.