AcademyU18s match report: Liverpool score 96th-minute winner to beat Everton

Trey Nyoni got the crucial goal deep into stoppage time to seal all three points for the young Reds, who came from behind to win with captain Jayden Danns having instantaneously cancelled out Martin Sherif’s opener.

Sherif and Danns’ goals were scored inside the opening eight minutes of an entertaining contest over which the hosts’ level of control steadily increased to the point of second-half domination.

Several chances came and went for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side, who were denied on numerous occasions by Everton goalkeeper George Pickford, before Nyoni struck decisively.

The match began far more positively than it ended for the visitors when Sherif bustled his way through Liverpool’s defence to give them the lead.

But the young Reds’ response was immediate and fine wing play by Ranel Young saw him speed to the byline before delivering for Danns, who expertly readjusted his body to take a touch then hook home his seventh goal of the season from close range.

Typically, the mini-derby was being played at a frantic pace with a competitive edge and a challenge from Sherif on Kornel Misciur forced Liverpool’s goalkeeper off, with Reece Trueman – brother of midfielder Ben – subsequently coming on for his debut.

Afolami Onanuga went so close to putting the hosts ahead around the half-hour mark, only for his effort to strike the foot of the post following incisive work by Danns.

And Liverpool skipper Danns thought he had turned the match around by slamming Nyoni’s attempt that was trickling goalwards over the line, but the offside flag denied the striker.

PHOTOS

By Nick Taylor

• Shop Liverpool's 2023-24 Nike kits online

Everton nearly caught Liverpool cold from kick-off in the second half but substitute ’keeper Trueman was alert to the danger and bested Sherif in a one-on-one.

From there, though, Bridge-Wilkinson’s team took charge and Pickford thwarted Nyoni and Danns in quick succession.

Ben Trueman was then foiled in stunning fashion as Pickford clawed his powerful, rising drive wide, and the visiting ’keeper was again called on to save from the influential Nyoni, who had burst forward from midfield and latched on to Trent Kone-Doherty’s pass.

Danns and Kone-Doherty each cleared the crossbar with shots as the pressure continued to grow, before Pickford instinctively repelled a low hit by Kone-Doherty.

Everton then went agonisingly close to snatching victory against the run of play when Sherif nodded a cross against the post in the 89th minute, but Liverpool’s moment was coming.

Kone-Doherty’s direct surge inside created chaos in the Everton backline and, after substitute Michael Laffey had rattled the woodwork, Nyoni was on hand to convert the rebound.

TEAM

Liverpool U18s: Misciur (R. Trueman, 29), Pitt, Lucky, Nallo, Kelly (Gyimah, 90), B. Trueman (Laffey, 90), Onanuga, Nyoni, Young (Ahmed, 61), Kone-Doherty, Danns.

Unused sub: Furnell-Gill.

NEXT UP

The U18s’ next league match takes place on Saturday October 7, when they host Sunderland at the Academy (1pm BST kick-off). You can watch the game live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO.