Jake Cain helped Liverpool U18s bounce back from their FA Youth Cup exit.
Barry Lewtas’ side won 5-1 away at Derby County despite being behind at half time.
The young Reds scored three goals in four minutes to tip the game on its head.
Cain was the man at the centre of the comeback during a man of the match display.
(Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With just minutes remaining in the first half Derby took the lead courtesy of a Jack Stretton effort. However, the Liverpool youth team came out fighting in the second half.
The 18-year-old Cain set up captain Fidel O’Rourke who headed home to level things up. Just minutes later he grabbed two goals for himself. The first came after a rapid counter attack which Cain finished off. Almost straight from kick off he scored again as the young Reds ran riot in Derby.
In a commanding position Lewtas’ side didn’t let up. Layton Stewart added a fourth goal, before an own goal got Liverpool their fifth goal and sealed an emphatic victory.
It was a much-needed win after the Reds youth side lost their last league game to West Brom.
Speaking post-match, the Liverpool 18’s boss said. We have had a tough week and the lads were disappointed to go out of the FA Youth Cup on Monday, but this was a nice response. Said Lewtas. “We were 1-0 down at half-time but still played some really nice football and we kept creating chances.
“We got the breakthrough, and, in the end, we were quite ruthless and clinical, which was pleasing from our point of view.
“We put them under a lot of pressure, and it was a really good way to end our league programme for this year.”