A goal from Layton Stewart proved to be the crucial one in nine as Liverpool Under-21s secured their first win of pres-eason with an enthralling 5-4 victory against Leeds United on Saturday at the Kirby Academy.
Mateo Fernandez gave Leeds an early lead before they were quickly pegged back by Mateusz Musialowski, who pounced after Oakley Cannonier's initial attempt from Fidel O’Rourke's cross was blocked.
The goal put Liverpool on the front foot, but it was the visitors who re-took the lead on 25 minutes, as Sean McGurk stung the Reds at the end of a swift counter-attack.
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When Cannonier was brought down for a penalty five minutes later, he dusted himself off to take the spot-kick himself, only to see his effort saved. Musialowski then rattled the crossbar as Liverpool went in search of a second first-half equaliser. And it duly arrived when Harvey Blair bundled home a O’Rourke cross for 2-2.
There was more to come before the referee could blow his half-time whistle, as Leeds regained the lead for a third time, when McGurk got in behind Liverpool's rearguard and clinically found the net again.
Any concerns that the pace and drama of the contest would diminish on the second half were soon forgotten when Liverpool levelled once more, just seven minutes after the restart. This time, Musialowski showed his talent with a slalom run that he capped off with a tidy finish.
With absolutely no let up in the action O’Rourke finished a move he started by getting on the end of Jack Bearne's cross to put the Reds in front for the first time in the contest. Leeds weren't done, however, and with 20 minutes still to play, Fernandez grabbed his second of the afternoon, pouncing on a loose ball to lock the teams at 4-4.
Only a reckless gambler would place a punt on what could happen next, but it was Liverpool who had the final say as Bearne jinked his way around the Leeds 'keeper before laying it off to Stewart to tap home the eventual winner.
The crazy 5-4 win was a welcome result for Barry Lewtas' team, no matter how it had arrived, after a draw with Caernarfon Town and defeat at Wigan Athletic in the opening preseason fixtures.
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