There was still time to extend the lead before the break, though, Wright grabbing his first U21s goal by finishing a fine team move. Morrison switched play to the left and Luke Chambers combined with Kone-Doherty for the latter to tee up Wright, who made no mistake.
Any comeback from Arsenal looked unlikely and so it proved as Liverpool added another two goals within 10 minutes of the restart.
The first, and fifth overall, came from an Arsenal corner. Pinnington sent Kone-Doherty away with his clearance, the flying winger sprinted clear to cross for Morrison and he grabbed his second with the minimum of fuss.
And Morrison’s hat-trick duly arrived on 55 minutes, Mitchell getting his clearance wrong under a challenge and the Northern Ireland youth international coolly curling his third into the corner with his left foot.
The Reds had further chances to add to the scoring, with Wright just denied as he tried to reach Pinnington’s through ball and Laffey hitting the post after a lovely run from Kelly.
A clean sheet was now the key target for Page’s charges and they worked hard to maintain it. Pinnington made a fine block as Sagoe threatened again, while Pecsi made a wonderful one-handed save to deny substitute Maalik Hashi.
But this was Liverpool’s day and they completed the scoring with 12 minutes left as substitute Figueroa, fresh from an injury-time winner last week, stroked home a penalty won by the persistence of fellow substitute Clae Ewing.
Team
Liverpool: Pecsi, Davidson, Pinnington, Nallo, Chambers (Ewing, 62), Kelly (Onanuga, 78), Morrison, Pilling, W. Wright (Figueroa, 62), Laffey, Kone-Doherty (Bradshaw, 67).
Unused sub: Misciur.
Next up
The young Reds return to the Academy next Sunday (January 25) for a league meeting with Leeds United.
Kick-off is 2pm GMT and the game will be shown live on All Red Video.
