Liverpool left it late but earned UEFA Youth League progress by beating PSV Eindhoven at Kirkby on Wednesday afternoon
Trent Kone-Doherty of Liverpool celebrates scoring the winner with team-mate Carter Pinnington during the UEFA Youth League match against PSV Eindhoven on November 26 2025 in Kirkby
Trent Kone-Doherty of Liverpool celebrates scoring the winner with team-mate Carter Pinnington during the UEFA Youth League match against PSV Eindhoven on November 26 2025 in Kirkby
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Better late than never. Trent Kone-Doherty struck in the 90th minute to earn Liverpool deserved UEFA Youth League victory at home to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday afternoon and earn qualification to the knockout stages with a game to spare.
Kone-Doherty nodded home from close range after a corner from Kieran Morrison was headed down by Carter Pinnington at the far post to move the Reds on to 10 points from five matches ahead of their final opening stage game at Inter Milan in a fortnight.
It was sufficient to ensure the under-19 side helmed by Rob Page to secure their place in the top 22 in the 36-team league and progress to the last 32 in the New Year.
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Lucky strikes
Trey Nyoni has been the regular captain for Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League this season, skippering the side in all four previous games.
But with the midfielder required for first-team duty in the Champions League later in the evening, the armband was instead handed to centre-back Wellity Lucky.
This has already been a significant season for Lucky, born in Spain but an England youth international, who made his senior debut from the bench in the League Cup defeat at home to Crystal Palace last month.
The 19-year-old started the opening two UEFA Youth League games when Liverpool kept successive clean sheets, but was absent from the last two games when the Reds shipped four on both occasions.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Manuel Bahaty of PSV U19 and Wellity Lucky of Liverpool U19 wait for the ball to be passed during the UEFA Youth League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Liverpool FC Academy on November 26, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
Manuel Bahaty of PSV and Wellity Lucky of Liverpool wait for the ball to be passed during the UEFA Youth League match
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And Lucky was important in keeping PSV at bay here with a number of important blocks and interceptions, leading by example with a calmly assured display throughout.
Alongside him, Prince Cisse, having spent time at right-back this season, was fortunate to escape an early red card when he followed a yellow-card challenge with another borderline bookable offence. And a difficult afternoon was ended shortly after half-time when picking up an injury.
Pinnington steps up
Nyoni's absence meant a hole needed filling in central midfield. And not for the first time, it was the sizeable frame of Carter Pinnington who stepped up.
While a centre-back by trade, 19-year-old Pinnington has proven himself versatile across the backline and in a holding midfield role. That, though, was curtailed shortly after the break when he reverted to the heart of defence with Cisse forced off.
Pinnginton still made an impact at the other end when his aerial prowess proved beneficial in earning Liverpool victory late on.
Cisse's departure meant a first appearance at this level for 17-year-old Haydn Murray-Holme, who has been impressing with the U18s this season in midfield.
The teenager wasted no time showing the drive and quick feet that have been the standout qualities of his formative stages. He will be a player to keep tabs on for the future.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Trent Kone-Doherty of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Haydn Murray-Holme during the UEFA Youth League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Liverpool FC Academy on November 26, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/Getty Images)
Trent Kone-Doherty celebrates scoring his winner with impressive Liverpool team-mate Haydn Murray-Holme
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Morrison switch
This was a much-improved performance on the one that saw the U19s let themselves down somewhat during the 4-0 shellacking at home to Real Madrid last time out.
Liverpool, however, needed the tactical switch of Page swapping the position of number 10 Kieran Morrison and right-winger Joe Bradshaw midway through the first half for the duo to begin making regular inroads.
Morrison, whose outstanding showing in Frankfurt led directly to a senior bow, was much more effective on the flank while Bradshaw gradually began to express himself in the more central position.
And the former was influential as the home side slowly turned the screw during the closing stages, with victory keeping up their proud record of having never failed to reach the knockout stages when taking part in this competition.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Hall; O'Connor, Cisse (Murray-Holme 49), Lucky, Ayman; Upton, Pinnington; Bradshaw, Morrison, Kone-Doherty; Sonni-Lambie (Inglethorpe 69). Subs: Bernard, Wright, Owen, Hickman, Farkas, Forrester.