Liverpool Under-18's disappointing form suffered a fresh setback on Saturday as Simon Wiles' youngsters were thumped 7-0 by Manchester United at the AXA Training Centre.
Defensive fragilities, which have been a recurring issue this season, came back to bite Liverpool in a game that the Reds did offer some bright moments in, but were physically outmuscled and simply collapsed in the second half.
Conceding cheap goals has been a recurring issue for Liverpool in recent weeks, with the Reds shipping 20 in the previous six league encounters. So when Bendito Mantato fired beyond Kornel Miscuir inside six minutes, there was immediate concern.
The United winger enjoyd his trip to Merseyside and was a constant threat on the left flank. He outstripped Alvin Ayman on several occasions, as was the case for the opening goal, when he cut inside and powerfully finished with his left foot.
The bad start could have been worse had Miscuir not been on hand to claw the ball away from the feet of Noah Ajayi moments later.
United soon settled into a groove, and was comfortable knocking the ball around and through Liverpool's press. The hosts were limited to half chances: Oliver O'Connor mishit a scruffy shot from the edge of the box, and Finn Inglethorpe stuck the side netting from an acute angle when better passing options were available.
But United always carried more authority in its passing, and grabbed a second just before the break when JJ Gabriel twisted in the box, before powering a shot into the far corner.
The 15-year-old has been turning heads at youth level, much like he turned the Liverpool defense inside out.
The highly regarded JJ Gabriel netted United's second of the game
If there were some positives in he first half, the second period was abysmal. Liverpool imploded. Other than an Inglethorpe flick which was tipped over by United keeper Cameron Byrne-Hughes, there few moments of promise.
Instead, United dominated. Gabriel grabbed his second when he again powerfully drilled the ball beyond Miscuir just beyond the hour mark.
Then Rafe McCormack made it 4-0 when he poked home from a scruffy goalmouth scramble. It could have been more, but McCormack's effort from a United counter attack struck the post and came out.
Liverpool did enjoy some encouraging spells of possession but failed to create any scoring opportunities.
When Jim Thwaites converted from the spot to make it five, there were groans from the small crowd at the AXA Training Centre. With a minute left, United substitute Samuel Lusale wriggled free in the box and then fired into the back of net.
There didn't appear to be any time left for another, yet somehow United managed to grab a seventh, as Gabriel collected the ball inside the box and converted his third of the day.
Liverpool's Under-18s has suffered some galling afternoons this season, but at home, against its rivals, this may be the most difficult.
**Liverpool team: Miscuir; O'Connor (Wain), Hawkins, Owen, Ayman; Hickman (Eden), Upton; Bradshaw, Inglethorpe (Farkas), Forrester; Sonni-Lambie.**
### Who impressed?
This was far from a vintage display. Josh Sonni-Lambie, the Under-18s' star talent, had an off-day. Joseph Upton and Joe Bradshaw also weren't at their best.
But winger La'more Forrester was perhaps the Reds' best performer and produced several penetrative runs in behind, including one that was scuppered by his boot coming off mid-stride.
Right-back O'Connor also put in some strong tackles and restricted United's attacks down his flank.