Liverpool U18s suffered a disappointing 5-1 defeat against Derby U18s on the final day of the season. Despite the loss, the match will be remembered for 16-year-old Joshua Sonni-Lambie’s first goal for the under-18s.
The Reds’ lineup was depleted due to injuries and promotions to the U21s, with several key players unavailable. This meant that Manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had to rely on a young and inexperienced team for the match. Although Liverpool started the game with promising pressure, they found themselves trailing 3-0 by halftime.
The main issue for Liverpool was their mistakes at the back, which Derby capitalized on with clinical finishing. However, goalkeeper Nathan Morana made several important saves to keep the scoreline from becoming even more lopsided. At the other end of the pitch, Liverpool had their chances, with Sonni-Lambie hitting the crossbar and Keyrol Figueroa forcing a save from Derby’s goalkeeper.
In the second half, Liverpool’s left wing looked promising as an avenue for attack, but their own mistakes allowed Derby to score two more goals. The young Rams took advantage of the space and time they were given and extended their lead to five goals.
However, Sonni-Lambie provided a glimmer of hope for Liverpool as he scored a well-taken goal in the 87th minute. It was his first goal at the U18s level in his 19th appearance of the season. Despite the loss and finishing in seventh place, the U18s can take pride in their overall performance this campaign. Several players from Bridge-Wilkinson’s squad have already made appearances at the senior level, indicating their potential for future success.
The final lineup for Liverpool U18s included Morana in goal, with Airoboma, Furnell-Gill, and Pitt in defense. Lonmeni and Onanuga controlled the midfield, while Ahmed and Sonni-Lambie provided support in attack. Bradshaw and Young started up top, with substitutes O’Connor and Evers making appearances later in the game.