Liverpool Under-21s fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat away at Man City on Sunday despite an encouraging first-half display.
Mateusz Musialowski cancelled out Oscar Bobb’s opener with a well-placed header midway through the first half. However, Carlos Borges’ brace, striking either side of the break, was enough to clinch victory for the hosts.
Liverpool had started brightly and created the first chance of the game as Luca Stephenson linked up with Bobby Clark in the box before playing the ball back to Musialowski, today playing as a central striker, only for the young Pole to send his first-time shot from the edge of the box over the bar.
While the young Reds’ first opening went begging, the hosts’ did not as they opened the scoring after 16 minutes. Finding space at the far post, Borges’ powerful shot was parried by goalkeeper Harvey Davies, and Bobb reacted quickest as he was gifted a simple tap-in.
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However, not phased by falling behind, Liverpool fought back and ensured City’s lead would last just four minutes.
Timing his run to perfection, Musialowski connected with a Stephenson cross and left Van Sas with no chance as he guided his header into the far corner for a deserved equaliser.
The drama at both ends continued midway through the half as City saw penalty appeals waved away after Dire Medbude went down in the box following contact from Billy Koumetio, before Melkamu Fraunedorf saw his flicked shot cleared off the line by Tom Galvez after connecting with a Max Woltman cross at the near post.
Pressing forward, Liverpool would start to cause Galvez problems at left-back as he was robbed of possession twice in quick-succession as City were left fortunate to remain level. Captain Dominic Corness would drag a first-time shot wide of goal from Frauendorf’s cutback after he’d stolen the ball.
Meanwhile, a stretching Woltman couldn’t connect with Lee Jonas’ low-cross into the six-yard box moments later after he had nicked the ball off the City full-back, with Koumetio then heading over from the resulting corner.
Frauendorf had a shooting chance of his own after running onto Stephenson’s lay-off, only to see Van Sas save his strike with his feet. Liverpool would retain possession and create another shooting opportunity, yet were denied by the goalkeeper again as he gather a long-range Corness shot with ease.
City would make the young Reds rue such missed chances as they hit Liverpool on the break again with Borges again left unmarked at the far post. Running onto a low cross after Jonas was beaten by a dummy, he took a touch before restoring his side’s lead going into the break by powering home off the underside of the bar.
Despite their positive first half display, the Reds ultimately struggled after the interval as City started the second half brightly. As a result, they had Davies to thank for the hosts not extending their lead as he saved well from Alex Robertson at his near post.
Meanwhile, Medbude would come within a whisker of scoring City’s third soon after following a defensive mix-up, only to drill his shot just wide across goal.
Chances were few and far between for Liverpool with half-hearted appeals for a penalty on Woltman the closest they got to Van Sas’ goal.
And any faint hopes of a comeback were extinguished when City extended their lead in the 71st minute as Borges scored his second of the game. Again finding space at the far side of the box, he unleashed an unstoppable effort across goal into the bottom corner.
Bobb and Woltman would both see half-chances go to waste in the final quarter, but with the win essentially already in the bag, City held on with relative ease to inflict defeat on Liverpool.
Liverpool starting XI: Davies; Jonas, Olufunwa, Koumetio, Scanlon; Stephenson, Corness, Clark; Frauendorf, Musialowski (Pilling, 87), Woltman (Miles, 87).
Unused subs: Hughes, Spearing
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