FA YOUTH CUP REPORT: LIVERPOOL 4

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FA YOUTH CUP REPORT: LIVERPOOL 4 - 1 BURNLEY

Young Clarets exit Youth cup with defeat away at Liverpool

2022-01-19T11:03:34.313Z

FA YOUTH CUP REPORT: LIVERPOOL 4 - 1 BURNLEY

Young Clarets exit Youth cup with defeat away at Liverpool

2022-01-19T11:03:34.313Z

Young Clarets defeat Potters at Gawthorpe to earn first league double of campaign

Tony Philliskirk and the youth team bowed out of the FA Youth Cup at the fourth-round stage with a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool.

Sean Etaluku pulled a goal back for the young Clarets midway through the second half, but it was the Reds who progressed through in the competition and set up a home tie against Chelsea in the process.

Played at Liverpool’s academy training ground in Kirkby, the hosts netted twice in the opening 12 minutes to gain a hold on the cup tie with both Melkamu Frauendorf and Mateusz Musialowski – German and Polish internationals respectively - on target from inside the box.

Striker Michael Mellon made his return from injury for Burnley and almost halved the deficit moments after Liverpool’s second, firing over the bar having found space for a close-range effort.

Clarets’ goalkeeper Sam Waller then made a fine save to deny Musialowski whose teammate Oakley Cannonier hit the crossbar with a header just prior to the half-time whistle.

Despite some resolute defensive work from Philliskirk’s side, Travis Binnion’s Reds added to their lead shortly after the restart. England international Cannonier the eventual scorer having been set up by Frauendorf with the ball bouncing in off the post.

Almost imminently though, the young Clarets fought back and after some good work down the left, defender Dane McCullough drilled across the box for Sean Etaluku to convert.

Mellon then brought a good stop from Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies with a low drive from the edge of the area, and were on the front foot, but Musialowski’s second goal of the evening halted the Clarets’ progress.

Son of former Burnley midfielder Micky, frontman Mellon came close again in the immediate aftermath with another effort going narrowly over the bar and Kade Ratchford also brought ‘keeper Davies into action in the closing stages.

It wasn’t to be for the young Clarets though, with the full-time whistle confirming a 4-1 defeat on Merseyside despite a battling performance throughout.

Post-match, U18s manager Philliskirk remained proud of his side for their efforts.

He said: “Tonight was a real learning curve for us, not just for the players but for me too in coming up against elite coaches and an elite team.

“Sometimes, you hold your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team and today was one of those days.

“That said, our group – as always – never gave in. I know that they’ll all be gutted to lose but they’ve got big hearts and I’m proud of them for that.

“Congratulations to Liverpool, they’ve made us very welcome here and they’re nice people so best wishes to them from me for the next round.”

Burnley: Waller, Leckie, Sassi, Ward, McCullough, Etaluku (Behan 82’), Hugill, Coppack (Walters 82’), Ratchford, Couch (Williams 65’), Mellon

Subs: Casper, James, Bryan, Westley