“Youthful Liverpool U21s Fall Short Against Monaco II: Can Their Summer Signings Turn the Tide?”

Summer signings debut but LFC U21 lose to European side

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Saturday 23 September 2023: Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni reacts after missing a chance during the Under-18 Premier League North match between Liverpool FC Under-18 and Everton FC Under-18, mini-mini – Merseyside derby at Liverpool Academy .

28 September 2023

With two 16-year-olds in the starting line-up and another coming off the bench, Liverpool U21s were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Monaco on Wednesday.

Liverpool U21 1:2 Monaco II

PL International Cup, AXA Training Center

September 27, 2023

Goals: Danns 82′; Michal 45′, Baglieri 50′

The young Reds have qualified for the Premier League International Cup again this season, with Monaco, Benfica, Feyenoord and Athletic Club in their group.

A League Cup third-round tie with Leicester has somewhat limited Barry Lewtas’ options on Wednesday night when the young side meet Monaco at the AXA.

Among the starters was summer signing Amara Nallo, who was joined by another 16-year-old defender in freshman Lucas Pitt. Liverpool’s Bobby Clark tries to find a way out of Monaco’s defence

The U21 team was captained by Bobby Clark and also featured Vitezslav Jaros, James McConnell, Trent Kone-Doherty, Lewis Koumas and Mateusz Musialowski.

Unfortunately, it proved to be a frustrating night for Liverpool as Lucas Michal opened the scoring for Monaco on the brink of half-time and Enzo Baglieri made it 2-0 shortly after the restart.

Jaros has already been called upon to make several crucial saves in his first game for the Reds since January 2021.

Both Musialowski and Koumas came close to reducing the deficit, but Jayden Danns had to be substituted to make it 2-1 with eight minutes remaining.

Jayden Danns pokes the ball in, but his frustration is ruled offside

After a couple of chances that saw Danns’ effort blocked and Clark’s strike hit the bar, the forward was on hand for what was his eighth goal in seven this season. Liverpool fought hard to equalise, with Danns’ second goal ruled out for offside, while Lewtas sent on another new signing, 16-year-old midfielder Trey Nyon.

But it was not to be for the young Reds, who saw Pitt pick up a second yellow on the stroke of half-time, earning Monaco a penalty.

Liverpool’s Trey Nyoni fights for the ball with Monaco’s Yhan Okoli

© Propaganda Photo 2023

A third goal was not to be scored by the visitors though as Jaros added flourish to some excellent individual play by keeping out Jules Bery’s spot kick.

Although they started Group C with a loss,

there were still positives for Liverpool,

especially a first outing at U21 level for both

Nallo and the in-form Nyon.

Liverpool U21: Year; Pitt, Miles, Nallo,

Davidson; McConnell, Pilling (Nyoni 89′),

Clark; Kone-Doherty (Danns 62′), Koumas

(Glatzel 76′), Musialowski

Notes not used: Kelly, Pinnington, Spearing, Hill

Next game: Crystal Palace (A) – PL2 – Sunday 1 October 2pm (BST)