England U21s 3-0 Northern Eire U21s: Harvey Elliott scores twice as Younger Lions stroll to victory | Soccer Information

Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott lit up Goodison Park as England U21s eased previous Northern Eire 3-0 on Tuesday.

Reds team-mate Tyler Morton, on mortgage at Hull, opened the scoring together with his first for the U21s. It leaves them second in Group F, three factors behind Ukraine who beat Azerbaijan 1-0.

In what appears more and more prone to be a straight shootout for the group win, the pair play one another within the penultimate sport in October, and the Younger Lions are within the uncommon place of enjoying catch-up.

It’s clearly a chase they’ll obtain and, whereas boss Lee Carsley will say in any other case, the final sport together with his children till March was a stroll after they dominated from the off, the gulf in school apparent.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, captain on residence turf, was the primary to waste an honest opening when he failed to attach with Tino Livramento’s knock-back as England struggled to seek out an early well beyond the strong Northern Eire backline, marshalled by Ruairi McConville and Michael Forbes.

Noni Madueke curled huge after 20 minutes and Jay Stansfield miscued a half-volley from Hayden Hackney’s cross however they have been half-chances, quite than the Younger Lions slicing via their opponents.

They continued to dominate and press, James Trafford a spectator in purpose, and Elliott shot huge however the killer contact continued to elude the hosts – till Northern Eire lastly wilted beneath the stress after 31 minutes.

That it got here from a misplaced cross mattered little as Madueke’s centre evaded Stansfield however was solely cleared to Morton on the sting of the realm and the midfielder drilled low into the nook.

From there, an England victory was not often unsure. With out Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis, elevated to the senior squad final week, they have been maybe lacking a zipper centrally however Madueke and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens provided sufficient on the flanks.

Certainly, Chelsea’s Madueke teed up Hackney to shoot over earlier than Elliott doubled the lead after 50 minutes.

The Liverpool participant was clattered by Terry Devlin 25 yards out earlier than exacting good revenge by bending a free-kick into the underside nook.

Madueke was denied by Josh Clarke as England hunted a 3rd and it was Elliott who discovered it with 10 minutes left. The 20-year-old ran onto Morton’s move, exposing an area within the Northern Eire midfield, and produced a fantastic chip to lob the onrushing Clarke.

There was nonetheless time for Elliott to hunt a hat-trick however he was thwarted by a fantastic Clarke save.

Carsley challenges Elliott to earn common Liverpool place

Elliott now has 5 targets in Group F, with England second behind Ukraine, and Carsley needs to see extra of the identical.

He stated: “It is necessary he maintain scoring and aiding as a result of he will be that sort of participant.

“His stats and knowledge for us are very, very excessive by way of his attacking actions across the field, the quantity of probabilities he creates for different gamers however extra importantly, his work charge and the way in which he presses the ball.

“He has to maintain scoring and aiding, it is a huge a part of his sport. A very powerful factor for lots of the gamers is simply staying within the race.

“Ensuring you retain your self match, ensuring your angle is in the fitting place and also you’re attempting to make your self selectable.

“Then, whenever you get the chance, taking it. To be a younger participant and to play within the Premier League week in, week out is an enormous ask so ensuring you are placing your self ready to try this is an enormous factor.

“He is come into camp trying actually match, actually sharp. He is doing the fitting issues. That is all he can do. When he is come on for Liverpool he is made a extremely good affect and I see that persevering with.”