Liverpool are aiming for a victory in Girona that would maintain a proud record in the UEFA Youth League this afternoon
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Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha.
Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha.(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
If Liverpool’s progress in the Champions League has so far been serene, the same cannot be said for their UEFA Youth League campaign. And the Reds are in danger of posting an unwanted first in Spain this afternoon.
An under-19s side coached by Barry Lewtas finish their first round against Girona at the Camp de Fitbit Municipal de Vidreres (kick-off 11am UK time) with only victory guaranteeing a place in the last 32.
Never before have Liverpool failed to qualify for the knockout stages, a proud record they have maintained during five previous participations in the tournament.
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But the narrow home defeat to Real Madrid last time out has left the Reds in 20th place in the 36-team league with only the top 22 going through.
Unlike the Champions League, in which teams play eight games in the first round, there are only six games in the youth tournament, with Liverpool having drawn at AC Milan, lost at RB Leipzig and beaten both Bologna and Bayer Leverkusen at Kirkby.
A failure to win against Girona wouldn’t necessarily end Liverpool’s hopes but it would leave them needing other results to go their way. For now, though, their fate remains in their own hands.
The Reds’ task will at least be boosted by the availability of both midfielder Trey Nyoni and centre-back Amara Nallo. The duo trained and flew with the first team to Spain on Monday afternoon but will link up with the U19s having not been included in Liverpool's Champions League matchday squad.
Rio Ngumoha was also among the senior party, but is ineligible for the Champions League and will also be free to play for the Academy team.
"The good thing is for these boys and their development we are under pressure to go and get a result, which is great," says Lewtas. "That is part of the competition as well in terms of trying to get boys to understand the demands of the game and it's something we are looking forward to.
"As they get a little bit older that level of pressure just needs to dial up slightly. Some of these boys are certainly closer to first-team football than where they were five years ago, when the pressure was a lot less.
"First and foremost, we know we need to play well and if we play well then we have a good chance of winning the game. We need to get the first bit right and that's making sure we perform."
Girona are in 10th place and are unbeaten in their five games, having beaten Paris Saint-Germain and Feyenoord earlier in the competition.
And Lewtas adds: "It has certainly been a demanding group, which is great in terms of how difficult these games have been.
"Girona are a couple of points ahead of us and have done well throughout the group and haven't lost a game. They will be a tough team to play against but we are certainly ready."