Rampant Reds Sink United

Toni Silva and Michael Ngoo both scored twice as Liverpool U18s produced a magnificent display to beat Manchester United 6-0 at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday morning.

Rodolfo Borrell's side might have been without their suspended inspirational skipper Conor Coady, but with Craig Roddan and debutant Lewis Hatch outstanding in the middle of the park, the Academy starlets played some sparkling football.

Adam Morgan also continued his incredible scoring feat as he netted for the 13th successive game - 12 of those at U18 level.

The result means the race for the Academy League Group C title is still well and truly on as Liverpool continues to put the pressure on leaders Everton.

Before the game both sides observed a minute's silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters that lost their lives at Hillsborough.

United started brightly and James Wilson went close with a drilled effort that landed just wide, but Borrell's side soon started to take command.

With Roddan pulling the strings in midfield alongside Hatch, who was starting his first full game for two years after injury, the young Reds began to show what they are made of.

Morgan went close to the opener after 16 minutes when his close range effort was brilliantly kept out by Joe Coll.

The lively Raheem Sterling then went close on two occasions before the breakthrough arrived six minutes before the break.

Krisztian Adorjan drilled in a superb cross from the left flank and found Silva at the back post. The Portugese starlet then lobbed the ball over the head of United defender Sean McGinty, then he turned him inside out again before finding the net with a terrific finish.

United then had a great chance to equalise from a corner minutes later. Jamie Stephens misjudged a cross but the unmarked McGinty at the back post could only head into the side netting.

It was to prove a costly miss as just before the break Silva made it 2-0 with a breathtaking goal. Picking the ball up in his own half, the Academy No.7 beat three defenders before finding the net with a great strike from the edge of the box.

With Monday's reserve outing at Manchester City in mind, Silva made way at half-time for Ngoo, but if the United defenders might have been relieved to see him leave the field, that didn't stop the one way traffic.

Straight from the restart Sterling charged through the United defence only to be denied by a brilliant stop from Coll.

The stopper then palmed a Brad Smith cross onto his own bar and moments later Sterling beat four defenders only to see his curled effort land inches wide.

Goal number three duly arrived on 57 minutes and it was perhaps inevitable that the lad who just can't stop scoring was again on the mark.

Roddan's brilliant cross from the left found Morgan at the back post and the striker netted in his 13th successive game.

Adorjan then saw his blistering drive kept out by Coll before the Hungarian made it 4-0 after 74 minutes with a superb turn and shot, after Hatch's effort was charged down.

Incredibly the scoring wasn't over. Ngoo made it a fantastic five two minutes later, with a sweet finish after wonderful link up play with Sterling.

The big man added goal number six four minutes from time after a lovely pass from Roddan.

The U18s will hope to continue their quest for the title when they visit West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday afternoon.

Liverpool U18s: Jamie Stephens, Joseph Rafferty, Brad Smith, Stephen Sama, Matty McGiveron, Craig Roddan, Raheem Sterling, Lewis Hatch, Adam Morgan (Tom Walsh), Krisztian Adorjan, Toni Silva (Jack Dunn). Unused subs: Tyrell Belford, Patrik Poor.

Reflecting on his team's performance, Borrell said: "To be fair United came with a very young side but we were too, with only four U18s on the pitch and the rest were all U17 with a couple of U16s.

"It was a very good performance and in general I'm quite happy because we kept up a very good level during the 90 minutes.

"I'm happy with our play and that is what I have been trying to teach them since I arrived here. They are getting better and we need to keep it going.

"It is a big result but we need to keep our feet on the ground and keep working.

"Silva scored two very good individual goals, especially the second one, but I had to take him off at half-time to protect him because he has been involved in a lot of games for the U18s and reserve team."