Everton Under-18s suffered a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Finch Farm on Saturday morning.
Despite a positive start from the Young Blues, the visitors netted either side of the break through Adam Phillips and Herbie Kane to take control of the mini-derby.
Ben Woodburn added a third on 68 minutes before Reds skipper Trent Arnold completed the scoring from the penalty spot after Josef Yarney had fouled Phillips.
Kevin Sheedy’s side headed into the fixture against their Merseyside rivals on the back of a hard-fought victory over Blackburn last weekend and with the sun shining at Finch Farm, the young Blues started brightly.
Nathan Holland combined well with Delial Brewster and the latter rounded the keeper before looking to slot home into an empty net, only to see his effort cleared off the line by a Liverpool defender.
Holland was then involved once again as he was played through by Nathan Broadhead but after doing the hard work to beat his marker, the midfielder couldn’t generate enough power behind his shot to trouble Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Shayne Lavery then called the Reds stopper into action again just moments later while down the other end, Everton had Ryan Harrington to thank as he denied Toni Correia Gomes a simple tap in at the back post.
But minutes later, the Toffees were left ruing those missed opportunities when Gomes found Phillips in the box and the striker took one touch before slotting past keeper Ciaran O’Loughlin.
Everton came out from the break looking for an immediate way back into the game but just moment after the restart they were dealt a blow.
The visitors were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after James Yates had handled the ball and Kane stepped up to curl an effort into the top corner to double his side’s advantage.
Keeper Kelleher tipped an effort from Broadhead over the bar as the Blues searched for a way back into the game but any hopes of a comeback were dashed as Woodburn capitalised on a defensive mix-up to add a third with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Toffees defender Yarney then fouled Phillips in the box and Liverpool captain Arnold stepped up to score from the penalty spot and inflict a mini-derby defeat on Sheedy’s Young Blues.
Everton Under-18s will look to bounce back when they face Fulham, the side they beat in the Dallas Cup final, in London next Saturday.
Everton: O’Loughlin, Yates, Harrington, Baningime, Lees, Yarney, Lavery, Kiersey, Brewster, Holland, Broadhead. (Subs: Pierce, Myers, Morris, Denny.)
Liverpool: Kelleher, Arnold, Lewis, Parker, Whelan, Coyle, Kane, Ejaria, Gomes, Phillips, Woodburn. (Subs: Johnston, Williams, Masterson, Lennon.)
