Our under-21s suffered a difficult return to Premier League 2 action with a 7-0 defeat on the road to Liverpool on Saturday, January 17.
We were down by four at half-time in the tough game at AXA Training Centre.
The Reds didn't let up in the second half, adding another three goals to their account.
What Happened
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We were behind inside five minutes when Will Wright sent Keiran Morrison through one-on-one with Remy Mitchell and placed the ball to his left for Liverpool's opener.
The home side doubled their lead moments later through Tommy Pilling, who Morrison found at the back post to tap in from a yard out.
Charles Sagoe Jr offered our first signs of encouragement with a superb dribble into the box and unleashed a strike that required a fine stop from Armin Pecsi, who dropped down just in time to parry behind.
With half an hour played, Amara Nallo pounced on Marcell Washington's headed clearance and hit a half-volleyed strike from range that beat our defensive blockade and went beyond Mitchell for 3-0.
Wright added a fourth for the Reds before the interval, after Trent Doherty made a clever run into the box and picked out his strike partner to poach home.
It didn't get any easier for our young Gunners beyond the break, as Doherty used good pace to plate up Keiran Morrison's second of the affair and Merseyside outfit's fifth.
Morrison completed his hat-trick moments later after Wright had pressured Mitchell into a misplaced pass into the opposition striker, who had time to bend one around our goalkeeper.
A chance fell to Sagoe Jr to pull one back after Kamara had pounced on a loose ball to break forward and found his teammate arriving in the box, but Carter Pillington threw himself in front of the shot to block what looked goalbound.
The hosts made it seven from the spot with ten minutes left to play, converted by substitute Keyrol Figueroa, which concluded a tricky day on Merseyside.
What’s Next
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Our under-21s will continue their Premier League 2 campaign when they host Burnley on Friday, January 23.
Kick-off at Managta Developments Stadium is at 7pm (UK time).
TEAM NEWS
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**Liverpool XI:** Pecsi, Davidson, Pinnington, Nallo, Chambers, Kelly (Onanuga 81), Morrison, Pilling, Wright (Figueroa 66), Laffey, Kone-Doherty (Bradshaw 68).
**Subs unused:** Misciur, Ewing.
**Arsenal XI:** Mitchell, Nichols, Washington, Clarke, Lannin-Sweet (Sampang 80), Ferdinand, Kamara (Oyetunde 75), Nwaneri (Hashi 75), Sagoe Jr, Nduka, Stevens (Pedro 45).
**Subs unused:** Talbot.
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