by Martin Spinks
martin.spinks@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE’S academy coaches were accosted by angry Liverpool staff after City thrashed the Reds 4-0 in their latest youth team outing.

Liverpool’s coaching staff – embarrassed by the four-goal beating at home on their own pitch – confronted their opposite numbers after the final whistle in a dispute over the Stoke line-up.

Liverpool claimed Stoke had reneged on an gentleman’s agreement about the number of first and second-year players to be named in their team for the FA Premier Academy League fixture.

But Stoke’s youth team coach Adrian Pennock said: “We had told them earlier in the week what team we would be playing and we stuck to that, so I don’t know what all the fuss was about.

“Their coaches and academy director said a few things we didn’t like. Maybe Stoke City are not allowed to beat Liverpool 4-0 at their place.

“I couldn’t believe how they reacted and how arrogant they were. We’ve since had an apology,by phone and so that is that.”

Ironically, the teams are now set for an immediate rematch this Saturday at Stoke’s Clayton Wood training ground (11am), after a re-jigging of the fixture list threw the two clubs together twice in a week the space of seven days.

Liverpool will want revenge for last weekend’s humiliation in which Stoke’s display was lit up by a debut from 15-year-old trialist Rico Gomez.
The Portuguese striker, fresh from trials at Manchester United, scored one and made one as Stoke ran riot.

Louis Moult bagged their first after letting a ball drop over his shoulder before crashing it home his shot into the bottom corner.

Gomez made it 2-0 when he raced on to Nick Jackson’s through ball and rounded the final defender, before beating the keeper.

Gomez, a technically-gifted striker with two good feet, then saw a shot deflect off Cameron Mitchell’s knee for 3-0 at half-time.

Victory was sealed in the second half, when defender Matty Cohen headed home Moult’s whipped free-kick into the danger zone.

Stoke’s win was all the more remarkable because they lost midfielders Andy Nicholls and Jack Harrison induring the first half.

Nicholls left the ground on crutches, while Harrison was taken to hospital for x-rays that showed no fracture to his knee.

Gomez also departed, with shin splints just 10 minutes into the second half, while Rodney MacDonald was forced to limp on in an impromptu defensive role after picking up an injury with half-an-hour to go.

Pennock said: “It was a great win all-in-all. Everyone played their part, particularly with all the injuries, but I thought Nick Jackson deserved a special mention for his passing and movement of the play in central midfield.

“Rico also did well before his injury. He hasn’t played much this season because of injury, so we hope to take a longer look at him before making a decision on his future with us.”