AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool beaten by Burnley in Lancashire FA Senior Cup

Han-Noah Massengo’s accurate strike handed the Clarets a seventh-minute lead, but Lewis Koumas deftly finished off a Reds counter-attack to equalise almost immediately.

Massengo again beat the goalkeeper from the edge of the area nine minutes into the second period, though, and Joe Westley added a third that sealed the tie in Burnley’s favour.

Liverpool made a lively start at Leyland County Ground, though it was Burnley who landed the first blow of the encounter.

Carter Pinnington’s sliding tackle thwarted Darko Churlinov’s dribble in off the left but the ball rolled out to Massengo at the edge of the box and he dispatched it with power into the bottom corner.

Their lead lasted only four minutes, however, as the Reds struck back with a lovely goal.

Having cleared a Burnley corner, Trent Kone-Doherty supplied an outstanding pass from deep that freed Koumas in behind. The forward coolly feinted his way around the goalkeeper and rolled a low finish inside the left post.

Koumas could have completed a swift turnaround when he then broke into the area on the right, though his unselfish attempt to square for a teammate was cut out by the opposition.

Mateusz Musialowski’s confidence in carrying the ball was a frequent threat for Barry Lewtas’ side, while at the other end Logan Pye flashed a firm shot just wide after being allowed to creep forward.

As half-time loomed, a well-timed burst through the middle by Trey Nyoni opened up a shooting chance that the No.8 fired a little too high.

Burnley began with intent after the interval, with Adam McCoy’s drive on the angle pushed away by Oscar Kelly before substitute Kian Le Fondre headed off target when unmarked at the back post.

But they did get back in front with 54 on the clock. Westley held the ball up well in the centre and laid it back for Massengo, who delivered another pinpoint effort that whistled past Kelly.

And the Clarets took a stronger grip on the contest midway through the second half as Westley robbed possession from Amara Nallo inside the Liverpool box and swiped a finish across the goalkeeper.

Lewtas’ charges kept going in spirited fashion and Jay Spearing saw an 18-yarder tipped over when he seized upon a half-cleared free-kick.

Nyoni had a strike blocked inside the area and in the same action Musialowski’s low hit was scooped in by the ’keeper, while a stoppage-time Koumas conversion was ruled out for offside, as Burnley ensured their place in the next round.

TEAM

Liverpool U21s: O. Kelly, Miles, Gyimah, Pinnington, Nallo, Spearing (K. Kelly, 72), Kone-Doherty (Pitt, 83), Nyoni, Koumas, Musialowski, Frauendorf (Danns, 65).

Unused subs: Poytress, Furnell-Gill.