Liverpool U18's edged out Derby County U18's in a thrilling 5-2 victory in the FA Youth Cup to progress to the Fifth Round on Wednesday evening.

Charles Vernam cancelled out Jerome Sinclair's opening goal, but missed a penalty before Sinclair added a second. Within ten minutes after the hour mark, Liverpool went three goals ahead thanks to Harry Wilson's sublime free-kick and Sergi Canos nutmegged the goalkeeper for a fourth. They added a fifth in the closing stages, as Wilson added a second from the penalty spot before Derby added a consolation when Sinclair brought down substitute James Carvell inside the area and Vernam atoned for his earlier miss.

Liverpool U18s manager Neil Critchley spoke of the fact that goals are guaranteed when his side play, and they certainly lived up to his words. The two-sides saw out a 5-5 draw last time out and have seen 14 goals scored in their last two league meetings, and there were plenty of goals again at the Diva Stadium in Chester. 

The ball was in the back of the net within five minutes, and it was the hosts who had the early advantage. After Sergi Canos was brought down, Harry Wilson's inswinging free-kick from the right-hand side caught out Derby goalkeeper Eric Behrens and crashed off of the post into the path of Jerome Sinclair, the striker only had to ball into the back of an empty net from a yard away.

But the advantage did not last long. Having switched the formation to a back three for increased defensive solidity, following a 6-4 league loss to Bolton Wanderers, U18s manager Critchley will have been disappointed to see Charles Vernam's 12th minute strike find the back of the net to level the score. After the ball deflected fortuitously off of Sam Hart and into the path of the striker, he sent a superb low drive past Andy Firth in the Liverpool goal. 

Derby almost took the lead just two minutes later, as Max Lowe's dangerous cross was put over the crossbar by Tom Mellors as the visitors enjoyed a decent spell. In the 16th minute, they had the perfect opportunity to take advantage as Adams was brought down inside the area. Vernam stepped up, looking for his second of the game, but Liverpool keeper Firth did well to turn it over the bar.

The Reds sooned regained a grip of the game and Sheyi Ojo began to cause trouble down the left-hand side. A fantastic run and cross found Canos inside the area and his goalbound shot was well blocked, before the resulting corner was wasted.

Regardless, the home side restored their lead just three minutes later through Sinclair. Again the creator was Ojo, beating his man on the left flank and driving into the box before playing it across the face of goal where Sinclair was waiting and he adjusted his body to chest in from close-range. 

But Derby stayed well into the game and should have equalised for a second time shortly after. After Liverpool captain Tom Brewitt committed a mistake and was dispossessed, Sam Hart had to recover quickly to clear Mellors' powerful shot off of the line and out for a corner. Immediately from the set-piece, Darren Wassall's side had the ball in the net, before a contentious foul was called on Firth. 

Both sides were forward-thinking and the back threes that both sides deployed were leaving space for the opposition, as Ojo reaped the rewards of coming up against right-back Sam Dryden. 

With the Reds ramping up the pressure, Ovie Ejaria could only shoot wide before Harry Wilson fired right at the goalkeeper with his left foot after cutting inside from the right. Despite their obvious threat, they couldn't capitalise and had to go into the break with a slender one-goal lead.

It wasn't until the second-half where the goals really began to flow. Derby started off the brighter side, as Mellors, who troubled throughout, curled an effort narrowly wide of Firth's far post but both sides found clear-cut chances hard to come by despite the fast-paced tempo.

The fourth goal of the game came via a set-piece and again it was via Harry Wilson. After being brought down in a dangerous area by Callum Guy, the 17-year-old Welsh winger stepped up himself and curled an excellent left-footed free-kick past Behrens into the bottom corner.

Liverpool continued to enjoy more of the game, as the ever-impressive Canos volleyed wide after a poor Derby clearance from a corner, but the Rams should have cut the deficit just minutes later but Vernam could only send his shot from Guy's set-up straight into the arms of Firth.

He was made to rue the missed chance in the 67th minute, when Canos rounded off a quick break. His right-footed drive went straight through the legs of Behren from the right edge of the area, to make it 4-1 to the young Reds. 

Two minutes later, Ovie Ejaria was replaced by Kane Lewis as Critchley switched to a back four and it had positive effects. Liverpool were solid and the back and could have made it five going forward, but Adam Phillips' volley swerved wide from range.

Derby continued to probe, but struggled to carve opportunities out. Guy's free-kick was the closest they came as his shot curled just wide, following a foul from Pedro Chirivella, but Liverpool did eventually make it 5-1 when they were awarded with a penalty of their own shortly before stoppage time. 

Wilson, one of the Reds' brightest attacking outlets, was brought down inside the area by Ethan Wassall and he stepped up to the spot and beat Behrens for his second of the game.

The goals didn't end there, however. In the third of four minutes added time, Vernam had another opportunity from the spot after Sinclair fouled Carvell from a short corner and second time around, the striker converted for a consolation goal. 

The game ended 5-2, meaning Liverpool progress to the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup where they will come up against Birmingham City at Anfield.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.