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A ‘perfect’ hat-trick from Liverpool striker Toni Gomes saw the U23s finish their season with a comfortable 4-1 win over Mansfield at a sun-kissed Kirkby.

The 18-year-old Portuguese youth international struck with his left foot, right foot and head in the friendly to end his year on a high note.

It was very much ‘end of season’ fayre with Mick Garrity fielding 11 changes from the side which beat Everton 2-1 in front of 18,000 supporters at Goodison Park on Monday.

Included in the side were midfielder Cameron Brannagan, back from loan at Fleetwood, and Lloyd Jones, returned from loan at Swindon.

Left-back Juanma returned from injury for a half while Shamal George was also back in goal after regaining fitness.

It was centre-back Jones who made the first impact, towering above the Mansfield defence to meet Brannagan’s hanging corner to power the ball past the Mansfield keeper. Liverpool ahead on eight minutes.

Rafa Camacho could have made it two before Jones almost did the job himself, again leaping highest to meet Brannagan’s corner but this time directing it the wrong side of the post.

Liverpool should have stretched their lead on 15 minutes.

Sam Hart made a good interception down the left and drew the keeper before squaring the ball to the unmarked Gomes but he somehow blasted over.

Camacho shot wide from a good position just before the half hour mark but Liverpool stretched their lead on 35 minutes.

Brannagan’s classy 25-yard free-kick rattled the crossbar and rebounded to the edge of the box where Gomes met it with his left foot to drive it past the stranded keeper.

A limited Mansfield side had offered little in the first period but improved after the break after several changes.

Liverpool too made a switch with young winger Marley Blair replacing Juanma to make just his second U23s appearance after a recent run-out against Hoffenheim.

Gomes was always Liverpool’s chief threat and his low drive after a Jordan Williams’ pass had the keeper scrambling to make the save.

The respite lasted just a minute though and Liverpool were three up on 58 minutes.

Sam Hart’s cross from the left was only part cleared and Gomes sent one defender the wrong way before firing it in with his right foot via a weak hand from the Mansfield goalkeeper.

The influential Brannagan almost got Camacho in but the keeper did better to block him out before Mansfield unexpectedly pulled one back from the penalty spot after substitute Mich’el Parker’s clumsy challenge.

George guessed right but his superb dive to his left wasn’t quite enough to keep it out and replicate his brilliant save against Man United at Anfield earlier this season.

(Image: (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Liverpool responded within a minute, completing the scoring on 74 minutes as Gomes met Sam Hart’s cross with a perfect header to complete his hat-trick.

Blair showed some pace and nice touches and might have got himself on the score sheet but was unselfish in trying to set up Camacho in the middle instead.

End of the season for the U23s and many of those on show will now have a nervous wait to see what the next few months will hold for the next step in their footballing careers.

LIVERPOOL: George, Kane Lewis, Whelan, Jones (Parker, 62), Juanma (Blair, 45), Brimmer, Brannagan, Williams, Hart, Camacho, Toni Gomes