Liverpool suffer West Ham misery as youngsters handed Premier League 2 thrashing

Liverpool suffered a hugely disappointing Premier League 2 afternoon as they were thumped at home by West Ham United.

The young Reds struggled to contain a powerful Hammers side as they were beaten 4-0 at the Academy in Kirkby on Saturday.

Barry Lewtas's side rarely looked capable of threatening despite a starting line-up that boasted Luke Chambers, Calum Scanlon and James McConnell, who had all featured for the first team in recent weeks.

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Liverpool, who started with three 16-year-olds, were their own worst enemy at times with some sloppy use of possession out of defence contributing to them tumbling to only a second league defeat of the season.

The Reds started sluggishly and fell behind on 13 minutes. Having coughed up possession in midfield, Liverpool were unable to prevent George Earthy bursting into the area down the inside left channel, with his low cross tucked away by the unmarked Callum Marshall from close range.

Mateusz Musialowski struck the base of the post with a deflected effort but otherwise West Ham goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge was largely untroubled in the first half as Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm, with visitors having a Patrick Kelly shot dragged wide and a goal disallowed for offside.

Musialowski rolled a shot just wide of the far post as the Reds improved immediately after the interval, but West Ham were given far too much encouragement and duly ran away with the game in the second half.

Marshall scored his second on the hour when showing good composure to score from close range after a cross to the far post dropped to him, Gideo Kodua