Layton Stewart made his long-awaited comeback from injury as Liverpool continued their strong finish to the Premier League 2 campaign.
Stewart came off the bench to play the final 26 minutes as the Reds earned a 3-0 win over West Ham United at the Academy in Kirkby on Sunday afternoon.
The 19-year-old had been absent for more than 13 months having suffered an ACL injury in the same fixture last March..
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Jack Bearne, Tyler Morton and Jack Bearne all found the target as the Reds - who have lost only once in Premier League 2 since the New Year - built on the momentum gained by beating Blackpool last Monday to reach the Lancashire Senior Cup final.
After a keenly-fought first half, Barry Lewtas's side took control with two goals in eight minutes after the interval.
The first, on 48 minutes, saw Conor Bradley feed Bearne, whose low shot was spilled by Hammers goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi over the line, although James Norris claimed the final touch. Then Morton reacted quickest to score the second after Tom Clayton had a shot parried by Hegyi.
Bradley was also the provider on 67 minutes with a cross from the right that was nodded home by the busy Clayton, before substitute Stewart had a shot cleared off the line late on. West Ham were reduced to 10 men a minute from time when Dan Chesters was dismissed for two bookable offences.
Liverpool are next in Premier League 2 action on Monday week when they travel to Leicester City (kick-off 7pm).
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Pitaluga; Bradley, Williams, Quansah, Beck; Clarkson, Clayton (Corness 81), Morton; Bearne (Woltman 80), Musialowski (Stewart 64), Norris. Subs: Kelly, Koumetio.
