Liverpool's Under-19s finished as winners of Group A in the UEFA Youth League with a 5-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday.
Goals from Lewis Koumas, Ben Doak, Luke Chambers and a double from Trent Kone-Doherty secured Barry Lewtas's side's place in the knockout rounds as they won their fifth of six group games.
The ECHO was at the Kirkby Academy to provide analysis on another free-scoring performance from the young Reds.
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Deserved victors
Qualification to the knockout phase was nothing less than Barry Lewtas and his young charges deserved for how they handled their group-stage campaign.
The young Reds were a cut above for much of the round that got underway on a baking hot day in Naples nearly two months ago. With Oakley Cannonier and Ben Doak, in particular, outstanding throughout, it was somewhat of a surprise that their goal-laden performances were not enough to book their place before these last rounds of fixtures on Tuesday.
Only PSG, Barcelona and Real Madrid had scored more than Liverpool 's 15 goals heading into this final week and Cannonier's seven in that time was only matched by Barca's Victor Barbera. Somehow, though, they were still made to play for at least a point in the final showdown with Napoli at the Kirkby Academy.
The result never really looked in doubt once the game got underway as the Reds showed they were head and shoulders above their Italian visitors with another composed performance full of goals.
The Reds were good value for the result and it was Lewis Koumas who put them on their way when Melkamu Frauendorf’s strike deflected off the striker into the top corner. Ben Doak made it 2-0 shortly into the second half with a well-taken finish as the Reds started to make the dominance count. Luke Chambers then rattled a long-range effort into the bottom corner.
Trent Kone-Doherty grabbed a goal for himself after Koumas had initially been denied and the Irish winger grabbed his second in style when he raced past a defender on the outside before dispatching with aplomb. It took Liverpool up 20 goals for the group stages - the most in the tournament to date.
If this core of players are able to stay together beyond the January window when clubs will be sniffing around for potential loan deals then they will have no fear of taking on the continent’s biggest names in the Nyon knockouts next year.
Doak a class above
One of the most exciting features of the U19s campaign has been the ongoing development of Ben Doak.
Barely a game has passed by without the young Scot turning in an outstanding display. Whether roaming the flank on the side right position or performing as a makeshift No.9, Doak has displayed all the qualities that made him a must-have from the fringes of the Celtic first team earlier this year.
Once again he was the main source of creativity of Lewtas’s team as he constantly carved out opportunities on the right. An early dummy was bought entirely by Enrico Giannini before another give-and-go with Melkamu Frauendorf got Doak in behind once more.
After Lewis Koumas’s opener, it was Doak’s energy and drive that almost set up a second when he got to the byline before a dangerous low cross was eventually bundled away.
Luigi D’Avino had no reply for Doak’s raw pace later in the half before a left-footed curler sailed wide as Liverpool pushed for a deserved second. The second half started in a similar fashion and Doak had his goal when he beat a man down the right from Luke Chambers’s excellent pass before smashing past goalkeeper Claudio Turi.
At 5-0, one smart turn in his own half with the outside of his foot could only force D’Avino into a crude foul that brought an audible laugh out of Doak as he climbed to his feet. It was all Napoli could do to stop him and it was far too little and far too late.
Moments later D’Avino was reminded of the score in no uncertain terms by the Liverpool winger as the pair involved themselves in an off-the-ball spat near the halfway line. Napoli’s attempts to rile the No.7 had no impact.
Like his colleagues, Doak has deserved to grace the latter stages and there can’t have been too many more impressive performers across the entire competition to date.
Kone-Doherty shines
Ben Doak has been the only wing wizard to have impressed here. Like his colleague out on the right, Trent Kone-Doherty excelled on the left, taking two goals in the process during this hammering of the young Partenopei
Whereas Doak catches the eye with his bullish, direct style, Kone-Doherty is more slight and subtle, using his pace and touch to escape some of the more muscular players operating at this level.
Comfortable on either side, Kone-Doherty was a constant outlet on the left, pinning the defenders back and stretching them with his pace.
His first arrived to make it 4-0 when he reacted quickest after Koumas was denied from close range but it was his second that showcased his talents best as he slalomed past a defender on the outside before finishing into the far corner with his left foot.
Replaced by Janel Young with the result secure, Kone-Doherty will be rightly pleased with his efforts. He is another wideman with a bright future.
