Liverpool kick-started their Premier League 2 campaign with a resounding 7-1 victory over Leicester City on Saturday afternoon at The Academy.
Goals from Bobby Clark and Ben Doak either side of Chituru Odunze's first half own goal handed the young Reds a healthy 3-1 half-time lead, before goals from Billy Koumetio, Max Woltman and Layton Stewart added to the young Scot's second of the game to move Barry Lewtas' side into third in the league table.
Here are the ECHO's key takeaways from the win.
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Arthur's mellow
There was a sense of surprise shortly after 1pm on Saturday afternoon when the team sheets were dished out at The AXA Training Centre and Arthur Melo was confirmed in Liverpool under-21s' line-up for the second time this season.
In fact, it was in the reverse fixture between the sides back in September that the Brazilian first dropped down to Lewtas' squad to make up for a lack of pre-season with both Juventus and Liverpool. And having missed nearly five months of action due to a thigh injury, it was a welcome sight to see the 26-year-old return to the field this weekend.
Partnered alongside dynamic midfielders Clark and Dominic Corness in the centre of the park, Arthur played out a nonchalant 90 minutes of action at Kirkby. While ex-Newcastle United academy starlet Clark is Lewtas' designated line-breaker and tasked with continually scanning for the runs of Doak and Harvey Blair on either flank, the Juventus loanee was on hand to recycle possession efficiently.
At times, it must be said, Arthur's lack of match sharpness was rather telling as team-mate Doak pointed out in no uncertain terms midway through the first half when the midfielder failed to release the 17-year-old down the left-hand side.
Sources have been quick to stress that Arthur's appearances in the Premier League 2 this season have all been off his own back and not something Jurgen Klopp or any of his coaching staff have enforced on the Brazilian. Saturday's encounter was viewed as the perfect opportunity for Arthur to enter the next stage of his rehabilitation as the contest at Kirkby kicked off just a few hours before Klopp's side faced Crystal Palace in South London, meaning the midfielder was able to stick to the same training regime as the rest of his first-team team-mates.
While not eligible for the academy's UEFA Youth League clash on Wednesday evening against Porto, it seems unlikely that the Brazilian will line up for Lewtas' U21s on Monday week when they travel to Arsenal.
Arthur himself will be hoping he is able to put a troubled campaign behind him and play some kind of role in the Reds' Champions League chase between now and the end of the season. But with Klopp now having all of his senior midfielders, bar Thiago Alcantara, fit, it's fair to say the Brazilian will be playing for a future away from Anfield in the unlikely event he is handed opportunities to impress in the coming weeks and months.
Doaking and diving
What superlatives are left to describe Doak's maiden season at Liverpool Football Club? None is the answer.
One drop of the shoulder and a string of trademark step-overs was all it took for 17-year-old to invigorate a baltic Kirkby playing field as he teed up Clark for the game's opener after just five minutes.
After missing a month of action due to a minor muscle injury and later making his return for the U21s against Chelsea last weekend, the forward prodigy well and truly announced his return to action on Saturday afternoon against the Foxes.
The Scot, who was signed from Celtic for £600,000 last summer, enjoyed his most prolific outing of the season as he grabbed two goals and two assists for Letwas' side, and was unlucky not to be awarded the match ball after the Reds' third goal of the game saw his shot cannon off the head of goalkeeper Odunze before trickling over the line.
For Doak, though, this outing underlined the exceptional mentality and attitude he carries into each and every game of football he plays regardless of the opposition, or age group he is playing for. Having made his first-team Liverpool debut during the victory over Derby County in November and since turned out a further four times for Klopp's side, the 17-year-old still displays incredible dedication whenever he is called upon by Lewtas.
While further first-team opportunities are expected to be in short supply for Doak between now and the end of the campaign, the 2023/24 season promises to be a thrilling one for the young Scot.
Better Layt than never
Given the emphatic nature of the scoreline, it was no surprise to see manager Lewtas in such a jovial mood immediately after the full-time whistle.
Not only had Liverpool's under-21s scored five or more goals for just the second time in the Premier League 2 this season, but they had been able to welcome back top goalscorer Stewart from injury.
The Liverpool-born forward was given his first run out since sustaining an injury during the mid-season training camp in Dubai, just weeks after his first-team debut against Derby County, and was on hand to round off the scoring at Kirkby as he lapped up the opening Lee Jonas' defence-splitting pass presented him with in additional time.
The return of the marksman, and Blair who was starting his first game since returning from his own short lay-off, has already shown signs of easing the goalscoring burden that had been on the shoulders of Mateusz Musiałowski since the turn of the year.
Such absences have meant the Poland youth international has been entrusted with leading the line in a false nine role and as a result the young Reds had only managed three goals in their last 540 minutes of Premier League 2 action prior to Saturday afternoon.
The return of Stewart and Blair, and Oakley Cannonier in the coming weeks, will significantly boost the young Reds' chances of enjoying a strong end to the campaign as they look to hunt down Chelsea and Manchester City.
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