Young Celts lose eight goals to Liverpool

Celtic suffered an embarrassing 8-0 defeat away to Liverpool’s u-21 side this afternoon.

There are bound to be mitigating circumstances involved, most of Celtic’s best prospects would have been with the first team for the match against Newcastle but no Celtic XI should ever be on the end of a score-line like that.

In pre-season it is often a case of getting minutes in legs, a tough defeat is described as a learning exercise but when the score-line gets to 8-0 it becomes humiliating.

Last weekend Celtic’s u-18 and u-21 sides lost at home to Blackburn Rovers, the decision to take on Liverpool looks hard to justify, had the match been played on Monday or even tomorrow Celtic could have put out a stronger team.

Colby Donavan and Ben McPherson came off the bench to get over 20 minutes against Newcastle but Kyle Ure and Callum Osmond were left on the side-lines.

Jude Bonnar has joined Ayr United on loan, scoring on his debut as Scott Brown’s side beat Arbroath 4-0.

On Friday Celtic begin their fifth season in the Lowland League with a home match at Airdrie against Broxburn Athletic

Liverpool’s website reported:

Liverpool U21s secured an impressive 8-0 victory over Celtic in a pre-season friendly at the Kirkby Academy on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds raced into a healthy lead during the opening half, breaking the deadlock inside 15 minutes with a well-worked set-piece.

Wellity Lucky’s header was initially saved but Kaide Gordon was on hand to slot home the rebound and begin the scoring.

A short while later, Gordon turned provider as he found Kieran Morrison outside the box, allowing the forward to curl a finish into the back of the net.

Gordon was again involved in Liverpool’s third as the winger caused problems down the right flank, crossing low for Luca Stephenson, who saw his shot denied before Trent Kone-Doherty swept the ball in.

The lead was four by the half-hour mark, with Owen Beck seeing a low drive from distance deflect into the net, while Gordon went on to win a penalty and duly convert himself.

Beck was again on the scoresheet ahead of the interval, Lucky’s inch-perfect ball over the top releasing the full-back in. He rounded the goalkeeper to tap home number six.

The Reds made a host of changes at the break, swapping their entire outfield line-up for the second half of the contest.

After the hour, they added to the scoreline via Keyrol Figueroa, who timed a run to perfection through the defence to race clear and finish well.

The scoring was then completed in the final minute of normal time, substitute Oakley Cannonier scrambling the ball home from in close after a good break from James Balagizi had allowed Lucas Pitt to cross from the left.

Liverpool U21s first half: Misciur, Mabaya, Lucky, Williams, Beck, Stephenson, Gordon, Pilling, Koumas, Morrison, Kone-Doherty.

Liverpool U21s second half: Misciur, Miles, Davidson (Pitt, 80), Pinnington, Nallo, Trueman, Ramsay, Laffey, Figueroa, Ahmed (Balagizi, 70), Onanuga (Cannonier, 70).

Owen Beck’s name leaps out, he will be 23 next month and has been out on loan at Dundee and Blackburn over the last two seasons.

Liverpool will have their reasons for playing a relatively experienced defender, what the Celtic players take from the match is harder to define.