Stoke youth boss Pennock slams Liverpool coaches after bust-up

Coaching staff from Stoke City and Liverpool clashed after City thrashed the Reds 4-0 in their latest youth team outing.

The Sentinel says Liverpool’s coaching staff – embarrassed by the four-goal beating at home on their own pitch – confronted their opposite numbers after the final whistle in a dispute over the Stoke line-up.

Liverpool claimed Stoke had reneged on an gentleman’s agreement about the number of first and second-year players to be named in their team for the FA Premier Academy League fixture.

But Stoke’s youth team coach Adrian Pennock said: “We had told them earlier in the week what team we would be playing and we stuck to that, so I don’t know what all the fuss was about.

“Their coaches and academy director said a few things we didn’t like. Maybe Stoke City are not allowed to beat Liverpool 4-0 at their place.

“I couldn’t believe how they reacted and how arrogant they were. We’ve since had an apology, by phone and so that is that.”