ACADEMY FOOTBALL: Searching for more despite big victory

Then Eccleston scored a superb individual goal when he cut in from the left and fired in an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

In the second half Eccleston scored his second with another run and cross before scoring another fine strike on 51 minutes.

He completed his hat-trick soon after when Kacaniklic was brought down in the box, firing in the resulting penalty. Liverpool's fifth after 68 minutes came from more good work from Kacaniklic to put sub Ellison in, who celebrated his 17th birthday seven days earlier, coolly side-footed home.

Coach McAuley said: "We scored five good goals, but didn't play fantastically well. It wasn't a 5-0 where we hammered them, but all the goals were good because we have got players who can run with the ball, cross the ball and certainly score goals. We were a bit fortunate to go in 2-0 ahead at the break because Bolton had played well."

Liverpool will look aim to close in on leaders Manchester City when they tackle them in Manchester this Saturday (kick-off 11am).

McAuley said: "In the next few weeks we have some tough matches with Manchester City and Everton."

Full-back Christopher Buchtmann is back in training and may be back in contention this week. And fellow German Marvin Pourie is away with the national squad for a training camp but will return tomorrow.

LIVERPOOL UNDER-18s: Hansen; Scott, Kennedy, Coady, O'Connor; Amoo (Ince 65), Pepper, Roberts (Cooper 75), Kacaniklic; Eccleston (Ellison 65), Dalla Valle. Subs: Pourie, Chamberlain.