Liverpool under-18s continued their superb run-in to the season courtesy of an emphatic 3-0 victory at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.
Rodolfo Borrell's side produced a dominant display against the North-East outfit and deservedly took the spoils courtesy of goals from Michael Ngoo, Tom Ince and Krisztian Adorjan.
It means the Reds have now stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches and will head into next Thursday's clash at home to Leeds United in buoyant mood.
On a sun-drenched afternoon in Kirkby, the hosts made a fast start to the proceedings and could have been ahead inside three minutes.
A flowing move saw Toni Brito E Silva cut in from the right flank and run menacingly at the visitors' rearguard. The ball was then worked to Adorjan who brought a magnificent full stretch save out of Adam Smith with a blockbusting 18 yard effort.
The hosts continued to boss possession but did not create another opportunity of real note until the 16th minute when Ngoo flashed a shot into the side netting after he was played in on the far right of the penalty area.
Middlesbrough responded and almost snatched a shock lead when Kieran Edwards stabbed just past Chris Oldfield's right-hand post after a corner had made its way right across the Reds' six yard box.
It proved to be a costly miss though, as Liverpool surged forward and grabbed the opener less than 60 seconds later.
Ince glided in from the left and played a pass into Craig Roddan. The midfielder then flicked a ball towards Adorjan who lost his footing, allowing Ngoo to seize possession and thrash a stunning shot into the top left-hand corner form the edge of the box.
It was no more than the home team deserved and they almost doubled their advantage a minute later but Ince dragged wide when well placed just outside the area.
On the stroke of half-time it looked inevitable that Ngoo would snare his second of the game, but the slightest of touches from a Middlebrough head denied him a free strike on goal after Adorjan and Ince had carved the Boro' defence open down the right.
It was the same story after the interval with Liverpool once again asking the majority of the questions.
Silva's now trademark mazy run from the right ended with a 25 yard drive that was brilliantly tipped past the post by Smith, while only Ngoo will know how he headed the resulting corner over the top after he was left unmarked in the six yard box.
A second goal was very much on the cards and just past the hour mark they got it when Ince was on hand to fire home from the left side of the box.
With the points all-but guaranteed the Reds began to express themselves more freely and they made it three with 15 minutes to go when substitute Raheem Sterling crossed for Adorjan to convert.
Middlesbrough's misery was compounded in injury-time when Philip Shead was shown a straight red for stamping on Ince.
Liverpool under-18s: Oldfield, Flanagan, Robinson, Sama, Wisdom, Coady, Roddan, Silva (Sterling 73), Ince, Adorjan, Ngoo (Emilsson 80). Unused subs: Chamberlain ,McGiveron, Ihiekwe
Important we keep the majority of this crop of players
Logged
