Second-half goals from Lucas Clarke, La’more Lee Forrester and Finn Inglethorpe powered the young Reds to a fine win, in an impressive response from Simon Wiles’ side following a heavy defeat last time out.
There were strikes on goal at either end during the opening phases of the morning kick-off at Thorp Arch, with Bailey Hall thwarting Logan White after Jacob Render and Josh Sonni-Lambie had each directed off target.
The latter might have put the Reds in front on the 20-minute mark. Lee Forrester’s sweet pass sent Sonni-Lambie through on the Leeds goal but the forward’s final effort was guided wide.
The ebb and flow continued with White escaping the attentions of Lenix Conde to the left of the area and firing a low drive that was well handled by Hall.
From the hosts’ same flank, Will Firth burst forward from the back but his attempt from a difficult angle did not trouble the Liverpool net.
Leeds were aggrieved on the half-hour mark as their penalty claims – Conde challenged White on his latest attack of the box – were rejected by the officials.
An entertaining half concluded goalless after both teams threatened before the interval.
A crisp Reds move saw Sonni-Lambie release Lee Forrester along the left. He beat his man and aimed a cross for Josh Abe, only for Jacob Howard to get in a recovery headed clearance.
Liverpool goalkeeper Hall then had to react smartly down to his right to deny White’s curling effort from a free-kick around 25 yards out.
Chances kept coming when play restarted. An AJ Yeguo strike on goal was crucially blocked after good work from Lee Forrester, while the Reds needed a brilliant Harvey Owen interception to keep Kenneth Mensah at bay.
Wiles’ first substitutions for the visitors arrived on the hour mark – and they worked an immediate and longer term treat to win the game.
With his first touch of the ball, Joe Upton swung in a corner from the right-hand side that Clarke met with an excellent header that found the net.
It was 2-0 on 73 minutes. Another substitute, Inglethorpe, combined with Yeguo to set up Lee Forrester, who dispatched into the bottom corner with a stroke off his side-foot.
And Liverpool glossed the scoreline further before full-time, Inglethorpe converting at the second opportunity having been assisted by Lee Forrester and then Yeguo.
Team
Liverpool: Hall, Conde (Lonmeni, 77), Clarke, Cisse, Owen, Murray-Holme (Upton, 60), Abe, Farkas (O’Connor, 65), Sonni-Lambie (Inglethorpe, 60), Yeguo, Lee Forrester.
Unused sub: Bernard.
Next up
Liverpool’s U19s group are back in UEFA Youth League action on Tuesday, away at Galatasaray.
The tie in Istanbul will kick off at 1pm BST and members can watch the game live on All Red Video.
