AcademyU21s match report: McConnell strikes as Liverpool win at Stoke

The midfielder’s finish after a driving run to the area proved the slender difference amid an evenly fought encounter at bet365 Stadium.

It brought Barry Lewtas’ squad a first victory of 2025, snapping a run of five games without success in all competitions.

Stoke sought to raid along Liverpool’s right-hand side inside the opening few minutes but Isaac Mabaya adeptly cleared a good low cross from Jack Griffiths.

Next, a long ball over the top successfully sprung Adrial Walker in on goal. However, Wellity Lucky recovered to produce a preventing challenge, with the hosts’ appeals for a penalty rejected.

What opportunities there were before the interval continued to come for Stoke, with two sights of goal for Favour Fawunmi.

First, the attacker narrowly failed to connect with a cross at the back post, and then he fired a decent effort from outside the area just wide of the target after the Reds had surrendered possession.

Liverpool emerged with much greater impetus in the second period and carved out two chances within 10 minutes of the restart.

A strong run from Mabaya took him to the edge of the Stoke penalty area and his strike on goal was deflected narrowly wide.

Then, a Kieran Morrison corner kick from the right flank reached an unmarked Trent Kone-Doherty, but the winger sliced his finish off target.

Back came the home team and they were closest yet when Christy Grogan sent a header against the crossbar. Jaden Dixon pounced on the rebound, too, but guided his own header wide.

There was an audacious volley from all of 35 yards by Tommy Pilling that went too high as he tried to punish a poor goalkeeper clearance.

But you sensed a breakthrough was imminent – and the Reds found it.

McConnell took hold of possession and drove towards Stoke territory before trying his luck with an effort that hit the net with the benefit of a deflection.

The No.6 almost repeated that trick with another burst into the box, only this time his final effort touched an opponent and drifted wide.

Stoke could have grabbed a point late on, as Fawunmi got in behind and managed to go around Harvey Davies – but his attempt from a tight angle struck the side-netting.

Team

Davies, Mabaya, Ewing, Lucky (Pinnington, 85), Nallo, McConnell, Morrison, Nyoni, Figueroa (Young, 69), Pilling, Kone-Doherty (Laffey, 90+2).

Unused subs: Misciur, Spearing.

Goal: McConnell (73).

Next up

Lewtas’ side host Middlesbrough in Premier League 2 next Sunday (March 2). Kick-off at the Kirkby Academy is 2pm GMT and the game is live on LFCTV GO.