Liverpool 4-0 Everton U21 - 14th August 2023

A very young Everton Under-21 side was beaten 4-0 by Liverpool on Monday evening.

Paul Tait was unable to call on several of his regular players and it was just too big a task against a more experienced team, with all the goals coming in the second half.

The opening period was largely dominated by Liverpool. The hosts forced a plethora of corner-kicks and it was a combination of resolute defending and excellent goalkeeping by Billy Crellin that kept them at bay.

Oakley Cannonier hit the post in the 8th minute and then Crellin made a fine save to thwart Mateusz Musialowski. Jarell Quansah should have given Liverpool the lead in the 20th minute but his header from close-range was wide of the target.

Liverpool were bossing the game. Bobby Clark forced Crellin into a terrific diving save and then the same player did well to create some space for himself inside the penalty area only to shoot against the crossbar.

Everton were failing to keep possession whenever they cleared their lines but as the opening period wore on, they gradually began to ask some questions of Liverpool. Francis Okoronkwo’s fine curling effort needed a very good save from Marcelo Pitaluga and then Jenson Metcalfe’s long-range drive was deflected over for a corner.

Liverpool started the second half on the front foot and took the lead in the 52nd minute. Bobby Clark dribbled his way across the pitch before sliding an inch perfect pass into the path of Musialowski, who took the ball past Crellin and knocked it into the net.

The second goal came just before the hour mark when Musialowski broke down the right and fed the ball to Terence Miles who smashed it past Crellin.

Midway through the second period, Crellin did well again to push away an effort from Luca Stephenson but he was powerless to prevent Liverpool substitute Tom Hill from making it 3-0 with seven minutes remaining.

Tommy Pilling came close to adding a fourth when Crellin lost possession of the ball outside his area, but another goal wasn’t long coming. Clark was the scorer with a firm shot from 10-yards in added time.