Heavy Defeat for Young Reds

Having scored at will in their pre-season friendlies, there were high hopes for Liverpool's U18 side as they took off for the Villareal International Tournament. There is, however, a major difference between playing against lower league sides and that of facing top teams from abroad, as the 3-0 defeat in their opening game testifies.

That it came against Kashiwa Reysol in what was seen as the easiest game of the tournament furthers the disappointment. Liverpool went down midway through the first half to a Yamasaki goal and then suffered another two goals in the 53rd and 60th minute, with Naoki and Koichiro being the scorers.

Liverpool will play Real Madrid - who won their opener 1-0 - later on today and then face Ajax tomorrow in the final game of the group stages.

Liverpool: Oldfield; Metcalf, Buchtmann (M. Roberts, 30’), Wisdom, J. Kennedy; Ajdarevic, D. Amoo (Ellison, 56’), Pepper, Dalla Valle (Pourie, 30’); Eccleston y Kacaniklic (Thomas Ince, 50’).