On Saturday, Mark Bridge-Wilkinson’s Liverpool under-18 team suffered a slight defeat against Manchester United, and in the second half the Reds were reduced to 10 people.
Manchester United U18 – 3:2 Liverpool U18
Premier League Under-18, Carrington Training Complex
January 21 , 2023
Goals: Scanlon, 15′, Norkett, 66′, Fitzgerald, 82′; Miles (p) 20′, Young 90′
Trent Kone-Doherty was among those who returned to the starting line-up at Carrington after recovering from a recent injury.
Liverpool started well and had a number of opportunities to get ahead in the early stages. United’s first match was mostly against the course of the game: James Scanlon put the hosts ahead after a quarter of an hour.
Their advantage lasted only five minutes, and 15-year-old Egyptian Karim Ahmed, who continues to make a name for himself at U18 level, won a penalty, which was realized by captain Terence Miles.
Both sides had opportunities to take the lead before the break, with Kone-Doherty coming close twice, but the score remained equal by the break.
HT: Manchester United U18 – Liverpool U18 1:1
United had chances to take the lead early in the second period and the game turned around on the hour mark when Reds defender Calum Scanlon was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.
The hosts made the most of their numerical advantage, shortly after that Manny Norkett put them ahead before fullback Jace Fitzgerald made the score 3-1, striking a spectacular shot from 35 yards.
Josh Davidson and Tommy Pilling had chances to close the gap on Liverpool, and they managed to win one back in added time when substitute Ranel Young broke through the United defence before firing on target.
The Bridge-Wilkinson team continued to attack, but could not even the score. The defeat leaves them sixth in the Under-18 Premier League table, with United third.
Liverpool Under-18s: Hewitson; Davidson, Scanlon, Miles, Lucky; Pilling, Pennington, Laffy; Kone-Doherty (Gima, 63), Gift (Hayes-Green, 70), Ahmed (Young, 70)
Unused replacements: Truman, Onanuga
Next match: Middlesbrough (A) — Under-18 Premier League — Saturday, January 28, 13:00 (GMT)
