LFC Academy

Young Reds Face Tricky Trophy Task

Liverpool FC U21s must make history on Tuesday 29th October by recording the Club's first-ever victory in the Leasing.com Trophy to have any chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Should Neil Critchley's side get the required win against Accrington Stanley FC they will still need the result of the final Group B game between Fleetwood Town FC and Oldham Athletic FC to go in their favour to qualify, but it would complete a remarkable comeback having only taken one point from their opening two games in the competition.
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The Reds had never previously played in the EFL Trophy, sponsored by Leasing.com, until this season. Founded in 1983/84 as the Associate Members Cup and renamed as the Football League Trophy (1992) and EFL Trophy (2016), the competition was open to the 48 clubs in the third and fourth tiers (currently League One and Two) of the Football League.

Since 2016/17, 16 U21 sides from the Premier League and Championship have been invited to take part with Liverpool FC entering the competition for the first time in 2019/20.

Adam Lewis taking on Oldham Athletic FC's Gevaro Nepomuceno and Mohamad Sylla

The 64 clubs are divided into 16 regionalised (north and south) groups of four teams with one 'invited' Premier League and Championship club in each group. Each team plays each other once, with the invited teams playing each of their three group games away from home. The top two from each group progress to a regionalised knockout stage.
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There's one unusual thing to note regarding the group points-scoring system. Drawn games go to a penalty shoot-out at full-time with the winners getting two points and the losers awarded one, something that may prove to be critical in Liverpool FC's group.
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“We thought it was the right time for us to enter,” said Liverpool FC U21s boss Critchley. “To play away from home in first-team stadiums under the lights is a different experience for our boys and it’s something you can’t replicate back here at the Academy.
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“There are certain stipulations that we have to follow. We are only allowed to play two players who are over 21. The rules are in place to make sure young players get the experience and exposure to playing in these type of competitions.
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“This is what we want for our young players. I think at this stage of their development and their age it’s important that you expose the players to playing game in and game out. We want our boys to get used to playing, then recover and play again in games that count, play in competitions where we have to get a result to get through.

Neco Williams

“That is another reason for entering this competition. Character and perseverance and building that resilience at this age is so important and we think exposing them to tough games is a really good way of doing that.”
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That character and resilience will be required at Accrington Stanley FC's Wham Stadium if the young Reds are to progress after losing their opener 3-2 at Oldham Athletic FC and being beaten on penalties at Fleetwood Town FC following a 1-1 draw.
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Full-back Neco Williams scored LFC's first-ever Leasing.com Trophy goal against the Latics at Boundary Park and had Bobby Duncan, playing before his move to ACF Fiorentina, taken a chance moments later the Reds may have gone on to win.

But Oldham Athletic FC netted twice in quick succession and although Harvey Elliott made it 2-2 before the interval and both Curtis Jones and Jack Bearne had goalscoring opportunities, the hosts snatched all three points with an 81st minute goal from a corner.

Harvey Elliott scores the equaliser against Oldham Athletic FC

With Liverpool FC's Carabao Cup 3rd round tie at MK Dons being scheduled for the same night as Liverpool FC U21s' second Group B game at Fleetwood Town FC's Highbury Stadium, Critchley had to field a much younger line-up on the Fylde coast. They gave a good account of themselves.
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Layton Stewart, Billy Koumetio, Jake Cain and Tom Hill all stepped up from U18 level to play in front of a crowd just shy of 1,000. After a goalless first half, 37-year-old ex-Everton FC defender Peter Clarke put the hosts in front, but Neco Williams levelled matters just two minute later after good work from Hill.
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It sent the game to penalties where Williams, Stewart and Elijah Dixon-Bonner all converted their spot-kicks, but 37-year-old Cod Army keeper Matt Gilks saved from Jake Cain and Tom Clayton to secure a crucial bonus point for Fleetwood Town FC.

Sepp van den Berg in action against Oldham Athletic FC

That has left Liverpool FC U21s bottom of the table after two games and with the First-Team due to play Arsenal FC at Anfield in the Carabao Cup the night after their final Leasing.com Trophy Group B match is scheduled for the Wham Stadium, it seems likely that Critchley will again field a young side at Accrington Stanley FC.
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Stanley are already through, having won both of their games, but now the Reds must win there on 29th October and hope that Fleetwood Town FC beat Oldham Athletic FC on penalties after a draw in their final game at Highbury Stadium on 12th November. That scenario would see Liverpool FC finish second on goal difference.

Should either side take three points from that game, or the Latics win on spot-kicks after a draw, Liverpool FC U21s first ever Leasing.com Trophy adventure will end, even if they win at Accrington Stanley FC.

For now the target of reaching the Wembley final in 2020 remains alive while, irrespective of what happens next, Critchley's desire to see his side “play in competitions where we have to get a result to get through,” has been achieved.