The game swung back and forth in the early stages of the first half before Oakley Cannonier and Ben Doak carried the lead for Liverpool at the end of the first 45.
Liverpool skipper, Jarell Quansah, was then able to secure the third followed by Luke Chambers on the cusp of full time to seal their third consecutive win in their group stage fixtures. However, Connor Young was then able to restore a goal back seconds before the referee blew for full time.
It was a somewhat wet and windy afternoon at the Liverpool Academy Ground as Rangers looked to build on their positive win against Napoli in their European campaign last month.
Despite the poor autumnal weather conditions, the stand was full of both home and travelling supporters as both teams stepped onto the immaculate pitch at the Liverpool Academy Ground.
Jacob Pazikas was given the nod from McCallum to be placed between the posts, behind a defending backline of Jack Harkness, Lewis Mackinnon, Connor Allan, and captain Robbie Fraser.
In midfield, Charlie Lindsay was joined by Mackenzie Strachan and Paul Nsio, with Zak Lovelace and Ross McCausland supporting in form striker, Robbie Ure up front.
As expected, the match began with intensity as both sides carried some ferocious pace, both in and out of possession and right across all areas of the pitch.
In the opening minutes after referee’s first whistle, Harkness made a phenomenal run down the right flank to push past the Liverpool defensive backline, but Luke Chambers was on hand to break down this early Rangers attack.
Liverpool then flipped the threat after Oakley Cannonier threaded a superb ball through a pocket of space to meet an advancing Melkamu Frauendorf into the Rangers box, but MacKinnon was alert to intercept the danger.
Following this, Rangers engineered the first real opportunity of the match after some fantastic build-up play from McCausland. The youngster managed to break down the right side towards the goal and swung in a lovely ball to meet the head of Ure at the back post, but the Light Blue could only steer his header wide.
McCallum’s squad looked to build from their positive early play, and it was Harkness again who caused more angst for the Liverpool backline once more.
The young Ger squared the ball to Lovelace who was placed in front of the keeper after he forced his way towards the goal, but the home side’s backline did well to anticipate the threat and clear the ball.
At the other end and despite the early Rangers threat, Connonier was able to open the scoring for Liverpool in the 23rd minute following a corner.
Jarell Quansah managed to get on the end of a corner kick and sent a powerful header from within the Rangers box, with his effort then being flicked by the striker past Pazikas.
The first half then pivoted in favour of the home side again only three minutes later, after they doubled their lead when Bobby Clark sent a shot crashing off the post from inside the Rangers box. Ben Doak was first to react to the deflection and calmly slotted in the second of the afternoon.
Liverpool continued to create problems for the Light Blues, but Pazikas made several crucial saves to keep the score to just the two before the halftime break.
McCallum introduced Baily Rice to the pitch for the second 45 as he looked to freshen up his side.
Captain Fraser showed some key physicality to help breakdown Doak’s advancement down the right side in the early moments of the second half as Lewtas’ squad looked eager to add to their two-goal tally again.
They were able to do so after Quansah netted their third of the afternoon on 54 minutes after he linked up well with Dominic Corness who sent in a corner kick delivery towards the Liverpool skipper in the Rangers box. The youngster made a good headed connection with his delivery and directed his effort wide of Pazikas and into the net.
The Light Blues weren’t without their opportunities in the home side’s half to try and close the deficit. Unsurprisingly, Lovelace was amongst the action after he sent a close ranged effort from inside the box, but Harvey Davies made an important block to deny the Gers a goal back.
Liverpool continued to carry fierce momentum into the Rangers final third with a clear desire to add another goal before the final whistle, but as shown before in the match, Pazikas made some critical saves followed by the clearances of the backline.
In the dying seconds of the game, another two goals struck the back of the net in the space of seconds. The first came from Chambers who drove into the box area and smashed it low across Pazikas in goals to give his side a four-goal lead, however, Rangers quickly flipped the flow as they tried to get a goal back.
Substitute Connor Young was able to get on the end of an initial block from Davies in the Liverpool box and rattled the ball through the arms of the keeper to end the score 4-1.
RANGERS U19s: Pazikas, Harkness, MacKinnon, Allan, Fraser, Strachan (Rice, 46), Lindsay, Nsio (Allen, 72), Lovelace (Pasnik, 85), McCausland (Graham, 85), Ure (Young, 88).
UNUSED SUBS: Kane, K. Ewen.
LIVERPOOL U19s: Davies, Mabaya (McLoughlin-Miles, 71), Quansah, Corness, Jonas, Chambers, Doak, Frauendorf (Kone-Doherty, 85), McConnell, Clark, Cannonier.
UNUSED SUBS: Hewitson, Koumas, Hayes-Green, Young, Gyimah.
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