ACADEMY: Five-star show eases holders through

Dec 13 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

FA YOUTH Cup holders Liverpool cruised through to a possible fourth-round meeting with last year’s semi-finalists Arsenal as they crushed Wycombe Wand-erers 5-0 at Adams Park last night.

Goals from David Amoo, Marvin Pourie, Nathan Eccleston (2) and Gary Mackay-Steven saw Hugh McAuley’s side comfortably defeat Wycombe. They will now face either Burnley or six-time winners Arsenal at Anfield in the fourth round in the New Year.

Having won the competition so memorably in the last two seasons, Liverpool had to guard against being the prized scalp of their hosts. Only two players – Astrit Adjarevic and Steve Irwin – had played in last year’s successful side, but McAuley’s team belied their lack of experience with a professional victory.

But a physical Wycombe side initially made it difficult for them. The visitors did, though, open the scoring after 15 minutes when David Amoo broke past the Wycombe back-line to fire home.

It wasn’t until the second half that Liverpool really dominated and German forward Pourie doubled their lead on the hour, profiting from a mix-up in the home defence for his ninth of the season.

Then Nathan Eccleston hit his 11th and 12th of a fruitful campaign with excellent left and right-footed efforts on 65 and 75 minutes.

Scottish left-winger Mackay-Steven hit the fifth when getting in on Adjarevic’s through-ball to score from a tight angle.

Adjarevic had a chance for a sixth, but in the end it didn’t matter as they coasted home.

McAuley, who coached Liverpool to their first triumph in the prestigious youth tournament in 1996, said: “It a typical Youth Cup tie. Wycombe were very physical and although we were comfortable winn-ers in the end, we had to work hard to earn the right to play our football, which we did in the second half.

“It was a very pleasing performance with all the main men in the attacking positions playing well. But our defence also had to work hard at times.

“It is something to build on for our last league game on Saturday before the Christmas break and then we can look forward to a really good tie in the next round against Arsenal, if they can get past Burnley.”

LIVERPOOL YOUTH: Bouzanis; Irwin, Kelly, Kennedy, O’Connor; Amoo, Highdale, Adjarevic, Mackay-Steven; Pourie, Eccleston. Subs: Collins, Hansen, Kacaniklic, Awang, Parsonage.