A late winner from Trent Kone-Doherty saw Liverpool U19s beat PSV 1-0 and secure their progression from the UEFA Youth League’s league phase.
Liverpool U19s 1-0 PSV U19s
UEFA Youth League (5), Kirkby Academy
November 26, 2025
Goals: Kone-Doherty 90+1′
Trey Nyoni had played every minute of Liverpool’s opening four Youth League matches, but he was left out on Wednesday due to his likely first-team involvement at Anfield later in the day.
Therefore, coach Rob Page started a solid midfield two of Joe Upton and the more defensively-minded Carter Pinnington.
Meanwhile, talented 17-year-old midfielder Ollie O’Connor played at right-back with Joe Bradshaw ahead of him on a youthful right side.
There were a couple of familiar names in the visiting PSV squad: son of ex-Swansea man Jonathan de Guzman, Jaden, played, while Ruud van Nistelrooij’s son, Liam, featured on the bench.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Oliver O'Connor during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC Under-19's and PSV Eindhoven Under-19's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Despite this being youth football, there were some biting challenges made early on. Both teams were penalised for late tackles – Prince Cisse was perhaps lucky to escape with just a yellow.
Liverpool kept PSV penned into their own half with the visitors struggling to play out from the back under pressure.
Morrison weaved into the box on a couple of occasions and had a shot well-saved, but the Reds were just missing the final ball from their game.
As the half went on, PSV began to progress further up the pitch. Shuryjano Cornecion’s side-footed effort over the bar from the edge of the box was the closest they came to scoring.
HT: Liverpool U19s 0-0 PSV U19s
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Prince Cisse walks off after being substituted with an injury during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC Under-19's and PSV Eindhoven Under-19's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• READ: Djibril Cisse’s son now breaking through at Liverpool after surprise position change
Liverpool were dealt a blow just after half time when Cisse went down off the ball. He had to be replaced by Jayden Murray-Holme, who went into midfield as Pinnington dropped to centre-half.
The next chance fell to PSV’s centre-forward, Austyn Jones, who hit the post with a first-time attempt at converting a cross at the near post.
Soon after, a great pass from Kone-Doherty found Kieran Morrison who strode toward the penalty area and was brought down just outside the box. The confident Morrison struck the set-piece well but it was a nice height for the goalkeeper to push to his right.
Liverpool were moving the ball quickly, Murray-Holme being noticeably coached from the sidelines in dictating the play, but the Reds couldn’t find a way through PSV’s navy blue shirts.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Trent Kone-Doherty during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC Under-19's and PSV Eindhoven Under-19's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Without having seen much of the ball, Josh Sonni-Lambie was withdrawn with 20 minutes left to play, replaced up front by Finn Inglethorpe, son of academy director Alex.
Liverpool continued to knock on the door and eventually got their reward as the clock ticked past 90 minutes.
One of the smallest players on the pitch, Kone-Doherty, was the man to thank as he flicked in Pinnington’s towering header from a dangerous corner.
The late winner sends Liverpool through from the league phase with one game to spare, away at Internazionale U19s.
Liverpool U19s: Hall; O’Connor, Cisse (Murray-Holme 49′), Lucky, Ayman; Upton, Pinnington; Bradshaw, Morrison, Kone-Doherty; Sonni-Lambie (Inglethorpe 69′)
Subs not used: Bernard, Wright, Owen, Hickman, Farkas, Forrester
Next Match: Inter U19s (A) – UEFA Youth League – Tuesday, December 9, 3pm (GMT)