AcademyYouth League match report: Liverpool 4-1 Bayer Leverkusen

The young Reds fell behind inside five minutes at the Academy when Kerim Alajbegovic scored from the penalty spot, but their response was emphatic.

Kieran Morrison volleyed home an equaliser before half-time, and Carter Pinnington, Keyrol Figueroa and Trent Kone-Doherty netted after the break to secure a comprehensive win that moves Barry Lewtas’ side onto seven points from four Youth League fixtures this season.

Leverkusen took an early lead when Alajbegovic sent Kornel Misciur the wrong way from 12 yards after the Liverpool goalkeeper had brought down Montrell Culbreath.

The young Reds reacted well, though they were unable to test ’keeper Jesper Schlich as Leverkusen kept the hosts at arm’s length.

Half-chances came and went for Ranel Young and Trey Nyoni, but Kone-Doherty’s influence on the contest was growing as the forward, playing on the right of Liverpool’s attack, was winning his personal duel with the visitors’ left-back.

Positive work from Kone-Doherty, who drove into the penalty area before cutting the ball back, resulted in Nyoni seeing an effort from 18 yards blocked.

An equaliser was beginning to feel inevitable and it arrived with 36 minutes on the clock when Morrison and Nyoni accelerated a patient team move with a sharp one-two deep in Leverkusen territory.

Nyoni burst into the box and had another shot blocked, but Morrison was on hand to adeptly sweep home the rebound.

Lewtas’ team then went in search of another goal but were indebted to Misciur for keeping them level at half-time as he denied Artem Stepanov at the end of a Leverkusen counter.

Misciur was again needed in the early stages of a second half that Leverkusen began brightly, the stopper making three fine saves by the 50th minute.

From there, however, the young Reds regained control, with Rio Ngumoha’s pace, trickery and tenacity down the left flank coming to the fore.

And Liverpool edged in front shortly before the hour when Pinnington rose highest to meet Josh Davidson’s pinpoint free-kick delivery with an excellent back-post header.

Ngumoha then saw strong appeals for a penalty waved away after he advanced into the area and was seemingly tripped, before the 16-year-old sent a powerful hit over the crossbar.

The third goal came soon after through Figueroa – and Ngumoha was again heavily involved as he jinked inside and slipped a fine pass into the substitute, who finished clinically.

And it would get even better for Lewtas’ side, as Kone-Doherty deservedly added his name to the scoresheet in stoppage time by racing onto Figueroa’s ball and slamming his shot into the far corner.

Team

Misciur, Pinnington, Nallo, Lucky, Davidson, Laffey, Nyoni, Morrison, Kone-Doherty, Ngumoha (Bradshaw, 88), Young (Figueroa, 72).

Unused subs: Hall, Bernard, O'Connor, Furnell-Gill, Ahmed, Sonni-Lambie.

Next up

Liverpool’s next Youth League assignment is a meeting with Real Madrid, which will take place at the Academy on Wednesday November 27.