Liverpool's new-look academy team were given a rude awakening by Aston Villa in their first game of the new season - getting thumped 5-0.

Reds Under-18 manager Hughie McAuley told liverpoolfc.tv: "It is disappointing for everybody concerned to lose a match 5-0 and it's a kick up the backside for the players.

"The players are developing but they know the standard that is required here. We will work hard this week in training before our next game against Sunderland at the Academy on Saturday.

"We were in the game in the first half but we didn't take our opportunities. Villa scored two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half and things then just went from bad to worse for us."