Barry Lewtas believes Liverpool under-18s demonstrated their potential in the thrilling win over Manchester United.
The young Reds surrendered the lead three times but scored a late winner to edge a .
Liverpool have scored 15 goals in four Premier League U18 games this season, and have continued their trend of last term with decisive strikes in the closing moments of their last three fixtures.
And Lewtas has spotted encouraging signs from his players already this campaign.
“It was great to see how the lads celebrated,” said the U18s boss. “They are a really good group to work with, close kit and really young.
“It's unfair to compare them with last year or previous groups. We just want to create something new now.
“If we keep playing football like that then certainly we can develop the players we need to develop.
“It's a real exciting group, you can tell they are young because they are still learning with things such as conceding just after scoring.
“But we've served up four really good games so far.”
While the game was played in a competitive spirit, tempers flared over after the final whistle with a unseemly spat involving most of the players sparked by United's Reece Devine, who was then sent off for a second bookable offence.
It was the sixth red card in the last four meetings between the sides, with Liverpool having lost in the Premier League Cup and held to a draw at United earlier in the year.
“These games are always eventful,” said Lewtas. “It was nice to keep 11 players on the pitch, although they did have someone sent off after the final whistle.
“We are a young team still trying to found our way, and we do play an attacking brand of football and their plan was to get us on the break.
“I told the players at half-time that we were the ones looking ready to push, but every time we got a goal they were at their most dangerous.
“It was nice to get one over them. We were disappointed when we lost in the cup having been 2-0 up, and then we drew away and they equalised in the 93rd minute. They were tough to take.
“There is a big rivalry as well as real respect between the clubs. But when we play each other, we want to win, and spilled over a bit at the end. That shows what it means to the lads.”
There was confusion over Liverpool's winning goal, with Leighton Clarkson's corner from the left headed on at the near post before going in off a United defender.
Layton Stewart claimed the goal, although centre-back Billy Koumetio also went up for the header.
And Lewtas added: “Remi (Savage) has told me it's Billy who got the touch. I'm sure Layton Stewart will have a few words to say, but Billy is a big lad! Good luck taking it off him!
“Our goals were really pleasing. The first two were really good throughballs and the third was a cracker, and while the fourth was a corner you take anything in the last minute.
“But even they are important. Remi got the equaliser last week, Billy maybe got the winner here. It's important as a centre-back if you can weigh in with numbers at the other end, it's an important part of their development.”
