Liverpool took control of their UEFA Youth League destiny with a commanding victory over Porto.
The Reds’ under-19 side were in dominant form as they beat their Portuguese visitors 4-0 at the Academy in Kirkby on Wednesday afternoon.
Dom Corness, Stefan Bajcetic, Max Woltman and James Norris all found the target as Liverpool drew level with their opponents on 10 points – but lead Group B with a better head-to-head record.
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side are guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs given they now cannot finish below both Porto and Atletico Madrid in the standings.
But, regardless of results elsewhere, they will progress directly to the knockout stages with a win at AC Milan in a fortnight.
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Liverpool – with Kaide Gordon, Owen Beck and Conor Bradley all starting despite training with the first team on Tuesday – enjoyed the perfect start as they went ahead after only five minutes.
A fine flowing move out of midfield ended with Gordon feeding Norris into space inside the area, with the ball then rolled into the path of Corness to finish first-time into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Porto, though, were not standing on ceremony, and after Beck was booked for a foul that ultimately saw Vasco Sousa forced off early on through injury, the tackles began flying in.
It made for a feisty and entertaining encounter, Porto dominating possession for large periods of the first half but only able to test Liverpool goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek from range through Jorge Meireles and Umaro Cande.
Indeed, the Reds came close when, after a good move down the left, Woltman’s effort was clutched by visiting goalkeeper Ivan Cardoso.
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They doubled their advantage in first-half injury time from a well-worked set-piece, a free-kick on the right flank pulled back by the impressive Corness to the edge of the area for the incoming Bajcetic to fire home into the bottom corner,
A fine save from Cardoso prevented Gordon curling in a third shortly after half-time, but the winger was influential in Liverpool’s next goal on 69 minutes when his deflected shot fell kindly for Woltman to tuck home from inside the area.
And Norris notched the goal his performance deserved in the final minute when found in space inside the area and slotting an angled drive calmly into the bottom corner.
Liverpool U18s are next in action on Saturday when they entertain Manchester City in the U18 Premier League Cup (kick-off 11am).
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mrozek; Bradley, Quansah, Koumetio, Beck (Chambers 85); Bajcetic, Corness, Norris; Gordon, Woltman, Frauendorf (Musialowski 70). Subs: Davies, Cannonier, Mbaya, Clark, Miles. BOOKINGS: Beck, Bajcetic.