There were mixed fortunes for the Liverpool Academy teams on a busy afternoon of action on Saturday
Keyrol Figueroa of Liverpool celebrates scoring with Lucas Pitt during the Premier League 2 game against Middlesbrough at the Liverpool Academy on November 1 2025 in KirkbyView Image
Keyrol Figueroa capped a notable week in his career by helping Liverpool under-21s continue their recent upturn in form with victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon. But there was disappointment for the U18s in another high-scoring encounter despite Joe Bradshaw extending his scoring streak at that level.
Figueroa, who struck a hat-trick in the mini-derby against Everton last Sunday and was then on the bench for the first team in the League Cup clash against Crystal Palace in midweek, netted twice as the U21s beat Middlesbrough 4-2 in the Premier League 2 at the Academy in Kirkby.
The 19-year-old striker opened the scoring in the 20th minute when heading home a Lucas Pitt cross only for Sonny Finch to equalise for the visitors shortly before half-time.
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Liverpool regained the lead three minutes after the interval when Tommy Pilling won a penalty converted by Kaide Gordon before two goals in six minutes midway through the half saw Rob Page's side pull away.
Figueroa scored his second when heading in Gordon's delivery before Kieran Morrison, a senior debutant in midweek, cut inside and finished well after good work from Trent Kone-Doherty.
Finch netted his second for the visitors with seven minutes remaining but it wasn't enough to prevent Liverpool edging nearer the top 16 and a play-off berth.
Earlier in the day at the Academy, Simon Wiles's U18s were involved in a remarkable finale as they slipped to a 5-3 defeat against Sunderland in the U18 Premier League North.
Bradshaw got the opener on the half-hour mark having been found by Josh Sonni-Lambie, but goals from Bayley Hester and Jay Matadeen had the visitors ahead by the interval.
AJ Yeguo then set up Bradshaw to score his second - the 17-year-old winger's sixth goal in four U18 league outings this season - to equalise on the hour, but Liam Hunt restored Sunderland's advantage with three minutes of normal time remaining.
Then in a frantic additional period, Finn Inglethorpe drew Liverpool level again from a Haydn Murray-Holme pass only for Marcus Neill and Lewis Campbell to score deep into injury-time to seal the win for the Black Cats.
Liverpool U21s are next in Premier League 2 action on Friday at West Ham United (kick-off 7pm) while an U19 side take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League at home on Tuesday (kick-off 3pm).
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LIVERPOOL U21s (4-2-3-1): Misciur; Ewing (Davidson 46), Lucky, Nallo, Pitt; Laffey (Onanuga 74), Pilling; Morrison, Gordon, Kone-Doherty (Pinnington 86); Figueroa. Subs: Poytress, Kelly. BOOKINGS: Lucky, Nallo, Onanuga.
LIVERPOOL U18s (4-2-3-1): Hall; O'Connor, Powney Wain, Cisse, Owen; Upton (Ayman 60), Murray-Holme; Bradshaw, Sonni-Lambie (Inglethorpe 46), Yeguo; Lee Forrester (Farkas 76). Subs: Esdaille, Hickman.