It was a desperately disappointing day for Liverpool U18s as they lost 7-0 away at Manchester City on Saturday morning.

After an excellent win over Manchester United last weekend, hopes were high that Neil Critchley's side could maintain their excellent start to the season.

However, Lee Carsley's City team were a powerful and strong outfit - and clinical in front of goal.

City were 4-0 up at half-time courtesy of efforts from Joe Hardy, Phil Foden (2) and Luke Bolton.

Former Everton midfielder Carsley saw his side hit three more goals in the second 45 minutes, with Hardy on target again and substitute Ian Carlo Poveda striking twice.

Reflecting on the loss, Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was a bad day and our start to the game cost us.

"We were 3-0 down after 15 minutes and five minutes later it was 4-0, and you can't start a game like that at this level.

"They punished our mistakes and were very clinical, but you have got to give yourselves a fighting chance in a game and we didn't do that so it was our own fault.

"We win together and we lose together, so we will get back to the drawing board on Monday and go again."

Liverpool U18s: Grabara, White, Lewis, Masterson, Parker, Coyle, Adekanye (Johnston), Hunter, Millar, Camacho (Brewster), Dhanda (McAuley).