Liverpool 33-goal striker sends new statement with…

Liverpool 33-goal striker sends new statement with memorable European hat-trick

Oakley Cannonier continued his fine goalscoring UEFA Youth League form with a poacher's hat-trick as Liverpool secured an impressive victory over Ajax.

Cannonier, the matchwinner at Napoli last week, scored once in the first half before netting twice after the break as the Reds' under-19s won 4-0 over the Dutch side at the Academy in Kirkby on Tuesday afternoon.

Substitute Lewis Koumas also notched in injury time as Liverpool, with coach Barry Lewtas having naming an attacking line-up, simply overwhelmed a good Ajax team who had opened Group A with a 2-1 home triumph over Rangers.

Liverpool took only eight minutes to go ahead. It was a goal that owed much to the persistence of Isaac Mabaya, who burrowed his way down the right flank before picking out Cannonier in the box to finish into the bottom corner.

Cannonier, who scored 33 goals in all competitions last season, was denied a second moments later when Liverpool won possession high up the field and the striker's shot from the edge of the area was saved well by Ajax goalkeeper Tommy Setford at full stretch.

Trent Kone-Doherty then shot at Setford after being found by Melkamu Frauendorf following more good Reds pressure, but Ajax began to play their way into the game and home goalkeeper Harvey Davies did well to fingertip a Chahine Van Bohemen shot from range against the crossbar.

Davies later saved from Ajax striker Jaydon Banel with his feet but Liverpool's constant harassing of the Ajax backline paid dividends nine minutes after the interval. The visitors coughed up possession with Bobby Clark pouncing to feed Cannonier to finish low into the corner.

Luke Chambers was then close with an audacious 50-yard lob with Ajax keeper Setford having been forced to sweep up outside his area, before Cannonier completed his treble from 12 yards by reacting quickest after a Dom Corness cross intended for substitute Lewis Koumas was cut out by a defender.

And Koumas completed the rout in the first minute of injury time with a good finish after being found my Frauendorf's pull-back from the left.

Liverpool are next in UEFA Youth League action at home to Rangers at Kirkby on Tuesday, October 4 (kick-off 2pm).

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Davies; Mabaya, Jonas, Chambers, Norris; Corness, Frauendorf, Clark; Doak (Koumas 75), Cannonier (Young 79), Kone-Doherty (McConnell 63). Subs: Hewitson, Miles, Osborne, Gyimah. BOOKING: Cannonier, Doak.