Sunday, February 20, 2011

Youngsters Hit Four Past Stoke

Raheem Sterling grabbed a brace and Conor Coady hit a thunderbolt as Liverpool U18s made it six straight wins with a 4-1 triumph against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds' skipper fired home an unstoppable volley to open the scoring on 28 minutes before the winger everyone is talking about tapped home the second after a superb run and cross from Brad Smith.

The visitors did pull one back just prior to the interval when Patrik Poor headed into his own net but Adam Morgan and Sterling both added second-half goals to seal the points.

Ahead of the clash Rodolfo Borrell included Coady and Sterling in his starting XI despite their exertions with the first-team squad in Prague.

It was clear the Reds coach was eager not to lose focus following the emphatic 9-0 success over Southend in the Youth Cup but it was the away side who made most of the early running.

On 11 minutes a right-wing cross from Michael Clarkson was met on the run by Flo Cavalier, but the midfielder guided his controlled volley wide of target.

The Potters skipper was proving to be a thorn in Liverpool's side and he was unlucky not to earn a penalty soon after when Stephen Sama appeared to bring him down in the area.

The hosts had struggled to get in behind the Stoke rearguard but snatched the lead just shy of the half hour mark when Coady caught a volley that arrowed into the corner of the net with Dave Parton rooted to the spot.

It was a goal of the season contender from the 17-year-old and capped a week that had seen him net at the Kop end as well as appear as an unused substitute for the first-team's Europa League draw in Sparta Prague.

The opening goal seemed to help the Reds settle and seven minutes later they doubled their lead.

Matty McGiveron played in Smith down the left flank. The Australian showed great control to take the ball on the run before delivering an inch perfect centre for Sterling to guide home from inside the six yard box.

The Reds were now in complete control but they were given a warning of Stoke's threat just before half-time when a high ball into the box was flicked into his own net by Poor.

Borrell's charges would have been well aware of the Potters' threat having been beaten in Staffordshire early in the campaign and the Reds coach would have called for his side to start the second period with renewed desire.

They did just that too and restored their two goal advantage on 52 minutes.

Krisztian Adorjan produced a through ball that sent Sterling speeding in on goal. The winger was driven wide by Parton but showed great awareness to pick out Morgan, who slid home at the second time of asking after Andy Hall had blocked his initial effort.

The Reds suddenly had the bit between their teeth and five minutes later it was all over as a contest.

Another sublime pass from Adorjan sent Sterling through again. The youngster hit a low shot that Parton got a big hand on but despite the efforts of Hall to clear off the line, the referee's assistant awarded the goal.

The diminutive forward then came within a whisker of netting his hat-trick but his teasing curler was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Parton.

It was one of the last acts of the day for one of the club's emerging talents as he was replaced by Tom Walsh on 64 minutes. It brought to an end six sensational days for the No.7 who netted seven times and was involved in Kenny Dalglish's Europa League squad.

His absence did little to quell the tide of Liverpool pressure as the hosts continued to play champagne football.

Substitutes Josh Sumner and Tom Walsh both had chances to add to the margin of victory late on but it wasn't to be.

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