LAURI DALLA VALLE’S double helped Rodolfo Borrell and Liverpool under-18s begin the new season with victory at Fulham.

The Finnish striker scored two with Adam Dawson grabbing the other in a 3-1 win in the FA Premier Academy League opener in London on Saturday.

It was the Spanish coach’s first competitive game in charge of the Liverpool youngsters and everything went to plan.

Liverpool opened the scoring when Dawson finished from close range following a throw-in.

Fulham, though, hit back to level things, but last season’s top scorer Dalla Valle restored the lead just before half-time after being played in by Dawson.

As the home side pushed for a second equaliser, Liverpool broke away and Dalla Valle sealed the points when latching on to Krisztian Adorjan’s through-ball before coolly finishing.

Borrell said: “It was a good performance and great to start the new season with a win. The team was serious with a lot of good order. They worked hard, defending and attacking as a unit. Fulham were a good, strong team, very physical, which is common here in England.

“We have a very young team for U18s, but we were very disciplined from the start, took the lead and even when they equalised we kept going. Obviously to win in the first game is a great boost for us all.”

Liverpool will look to continue their fine start in their first home match of the season at the Kirkby Academy this Saturday when they entertain Leicester City (kick-off 12pm).