Liverpool Academy Update: Will Wright Off to Great Start

Liverpool’s Academy teams have got off to an encouraging start to the season, with former Salford City striker Will Wright finding his shooting boots.

With new manager Andoni Iraola showing an eagerness to develop young players at Bournemouth, Liverpool’s youngsters know they will get chances if they perform for the youth teams. 

Rob Page (U21S) and Simon Wiles (U18S) will work closely with the new manager to identify players ready for the first-team environment. It has been a quiet week for both academy teams, with neither having a game this weekend. 

Liverpool’s U21S did play a friendly against FC Liefering in Austria on Thursday, winning 3-2 through goals from Jayden Danns, Will Wight and Joe Bradshaw. 

Jayden Danns has made a welcome return to the scoresheet after injury meant he played just five matches and scored a single goal last season. The 20-year-old was once on the fringes of the Liverpool first team, and a run of form and fitness could fire him back into the equation. 

Joe Bradshaw scored 11 goals in the U18 Premier League last season and is among a number of players making a successful step up to U21 football so far.

Credit: Liverpool FC

Another player who has no trouble finding the back of the net is Will Wright. The 18-year-old already has three goals in two PL2 games and added another to his catalogue in Thursday's friendly. 

The U21S next play on the 14th September against West Ham.

The U18S have had a harder start to the season but got their first of the season on the 29th August by beating Wolves 4-2.

The young Reds went 2-0 through Finn Inglethorpe and Erik Farkas before letting their lead slip just after the hour mark. Zak Coxon then restored Liverpool’s lead with a 87th minute striker before Inglethorpe sealed the deal with a 97th-minute strike from close to the halfway line. 

U18 captain Inglethorpe already has five League goals this season following a penalty in the opener against Manchester City with braces against Middlesbrough and Wolves. 

Liverpool kick off their UEFA Youth League campaign on Wednesday when they take on Athletico Madrid. The U19 team will be a combination of U21S' youngest players and the U18S' most talented. 

Then, Liverpool’s U18S return to action with a home game against Burnley on the 12th September.