Liverpool U23s began their Premier League Cup campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic.
A superb double from Elijah Dixon-Bonner - captain for the day with Curtis Jones rested ahead of a busy schedule with England U19s - put the young Reds in command inside the opening 15 minutes of Sunday’s Group F match at the Academy.
Joe Gelhardt quickly halved the Latics’ deficit, but 16-year-old Tom Hill marked an impressive U23s debut with a goal to ensure Liverpool went in at the break 3-1 up.
Neil Critchley’s team came under pressure in the early stages of the second period, and Gelhardt rammed in his second of the game in the 58th minute.