Under-18s Held By Stoke City

Liverpool Under-18s let a two goal lead slip as they were held to a 2-2 draw away at Stoke City.

Goals from David Amoo and Lauri Dalla Valle had put Hughie McAuley's team in the driving seat but Stoke battled back to earn a share of the spoils.

McAuley's preparations were not helped at the start when Alex Kacaniklic felt his hamstring in the warm-up and James Ellison came back into the starting XI.

Then after five minutes left back Alex Cooper was forced to leave the field with concussion and Under-16 defender Carl Claire made his Under-18s bow.

"It was disappointing to only get a draw because we created enough chances to have won the game," said McAuley.

"We could easily have gone in at half-time 4-1 up but we let them back in the game when they scored just before the break.

"They got an equaliser from a set piece and they were very direct and played a lot of long balls against us.

"It was a very windy day and conditions were difficult but again, we created some great chances to win it in the second half. Thomas Ince had two openings and Amoo and Dalla Valle could have scored again."

Liverpool Under-18s team: Dean Bouzanis, Jack Metcalf, Alex Cooper (Carl Claire 5), Andre Wisdom, Joe Kennedy, Michael Roberts, David Amoo, Adam Pepper, Lauri Dalla Valle, James Ellison, Thomas Ince. Subs unused: Deale Chamberlain, Jordan Tucker (U15).