Liverpool scored a contender for goal of the season, as one player was compared to Curtis Jones, in a comfortable victory for the under-18 team.
Liverpool U18 3-1 Stoke City U18
Premier League U18 (12), AXA Training CenterJanuary 13, 2023
Goals: Agina (og.) 23′, Pennington 49′, Laffey 87; Width 43′
Despite losing top scorer Jayden Danns to the Under-21s, Liverpool’s Under-21s swept Stoke to claim their first win of 2024.
The Reds squad made six changes from their FA Youth Cup victory over Fleetwood, as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson switched to a back four of Lucas Pitt, Francis Gyimah, Wellity Lucky and Luca Furnell-Gill.
However, it was the forwards who stole the show, with Keyrol Figueroa, Cody Pennington and Kieran Morrison brilliantly taking over in Danns’ absence.
Liverpool’s opener came when Morrison played a great behind-the-back pass for Pitt, who sent a low cross into the six-yard box.
This put pressure on defender Syd Agina and led him to accidentally turn the ball into his own goal from close range.
But the game was not entirely favorable for Liverpool, who tied at half-time thanks to a header from Pedro Nzau from a corner kick that went over the head of goalkeeper Kornel Misciur.
It wasn’t long before Liverpool regained the lead, and they did so thanks to a goal of the season contender. This was the true definition of a team goal, capped off by a couple of moments of individual magic.
The team moves. The end. ??? pic.twitter.com/CEPEguZSd6
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 13, 2024
Starting from the goalkeeper, the Reds played the ball beautifully through midfield before Morrison showed his skill, producing multiple passes over the top.
He then passed to Pennington who, after Figueroa had touched the ball, turned the ball first into the top corner from outside the box.
Michael Laffey sealed Liverpool’s victory in the end, with a deserved goal to cap a display in which he was constantly involved to put the Reds ahead.
That day, it was Morrison who stole the most plaudits, with commentators Steve Hunter and Paul Dalglish even comparing him to Jones, who also came through the academy.
Curtis? https://t.co/iFytrDOwEW pic.twitter.com/863pbYcn5x
– Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) January 13, 2024
Kieran Morrison seems determined to make the first team at some point. Great technical ability, great attitude, he works hard. It seems like it would take very hard lines not to achieve this.
– Mark Ballard #MakeVotesMatter (@MarkBallard4) January 13, 2024
I was watching the video of the second goal on the club’s website and the first thing I thought was that he looks like Curtis.
—Ai Leen_L??? (@TheAiLeen_L) January 13, 2024
Liverpool U18 victory in Kirkby, 3-1 against Stoke.
An own goal, a stunner from Cody Pennington and a late goal from captain Mick Laffey did the trick for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s team, for whom Kieran Morrison was exceptional.#LFC ?
– Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) January 13, 2024
The next game is the FA Youth Cup fourth round against Arsenal on Saturday night in Kirkby. It will be a tougher test, but some of Wilkinson’s regulars will be back for it.
Liverpool U18: Misciur; Pitt, Gyimah (Evers, 90+1), Lucky, Furnell-Gill; Trueman, Laffey, Pennington; Sonny-Lamb, Figueroa, Morrison
Unused subs: Morana, Kelly, Enahoro-Marcus, Airoboma
Next match: Arsenal (H) – FA Youth Cup – January 20, 5:30 p.m. (GMT)
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