Fulham U21 0-4 Liverpool U21

It was a difficult weekend for our Under-21s, who suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool.

Steve Wigley made a series of changes for Sunday’s test at Motspur Park. Michael Allen replaced Alex Borto in goal and Devan Tanton returned to his right-back position after missing out in our Premier League Cup tie against Brentford.

After making a few appearances off the bench since returning from injury, Kristian Šekularac was given a start on the right-hand side. Luc De Fougerolles is used to playing in defence, but on this occasion the youngster was handed the number eight shirt and started in midfield alongside Matt Dibley-Dias.

With Terry Ablade on the bench, Olly Sanderson was the preferred choice up front.

The young Whites got off to the worst possible start, going behind with just two minutes on the clock. Bobby Clark rolled the ball across to Harvey Blair, who stroked home to open the scoring.

We looked to respond instantly, with martial Godo cutting in from the left before rifling a shot over.

The visitors could’ve made it two on 12 minutes. Allen did excellently to get down and save Dominic Corness’ initial effort, before Layton Stewart somehow blazed over from the rebound.

The game became quite balanced, with both sides struggling to create any clear-cut opportunities. Dibley-Dias swung in a corner which narrowly evaded the head of Luke Harris at the back post.

We were growing into the game but Blair scored his second to double Liverpool's lead a few minutes before the break. A loose ball fell kindly to the winger, who composed himself before curling a stunning effort into the top far corner.

Steve Wigley's side had plenty of work to do in the second half.

After a pause in the game due to a Sanderson injury, which saw him be replaced by Ablade, Harris had a decent effort deflected before being smothered by goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga.

The Liverpool stopper was in the right place again soon after to collect Charlie Robinson’s cross from the right.

We gifted the Reds a third on 59 minutes, when Jay Williams’ back pass rolled under the foot of Allen before slowly dribbling into our own goal.

In an attempt to change the tide, Wigley made a couple of changes just past the hour mark. Under-18s winger Terrell Works replaced Šekularac, while George Okkas came on in place of Williams.

Ablade was looking lively and spun his defender before having a decent low cross from the right cleared before it could reach a player in white.

Liverpool's Max Woltman could've added a fourth with 10 minutes remaining, when a header at the back post found its way to him just in front of goal. Thankfully, his header was a poor one which bounced wide.

Three became four in stoppage time, when substitute Mateusz Musialowski shifted the ball onto his left before firing a low strike through the legs of Allen.

That was the last piece of action and the final whistle was soon blown.