Rio Ngumoha played his second game in 24 hours as he started in a strong Liverpool U21s side who beat Leeds 2-1 after a winner with the very last kick.
Liverpool U21s 2-1 Leeds U21s
Premier League 2 | AXA Training Centre
January 25, 2026
Goals: Figueroa 74′, Morrison pen 90+4′; Wilson pen 11′
Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Calvin Ramsay all started against Leeds U21s after being on the bench for Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The youngster came off the bench to replace Cody Gakpo in the second half at Dean Court and followed that up with a place in Rob Page’s side as Virgil van Dijk watched on at the AXA Training Centre on Sunday afternoon.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Unfortunately Liverpool went a goal down early on, as Amara Nallo gave a penalty away and forward Marley Wilson stepped up to convert for Leeds.
A brilliant save from Darryl Ombang denied Ngumoha an equaliser as his long-range effort flew towards the top corner, with Kieran Morrison then thwarted from inside the area after a driving run from his fellow winger.
Half-time: Liverpool U21s 0-1 Leeds U21s
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 1, 2025: Liverpool's Joe Bradshaw during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Sunderland AFC Under-18's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ngumoha was brought off at half-time in a pre-planned changed as Joe Bradshaw took the 17-year-old’s place to avoid any ill effects of his workload over the weekend.
It gave the young Reds a different dynamic down the left, with more emphasis on the width of left-back Clae Ewing, and they continued to dominate as they pushed for an equaliser.
Another substitute, top scorer Keyrol Figueroa, went close with a header from a corner as Morrison pulled the strings with his creativity.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 1, 2025: Liverpool's Keyrol Figueroa celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Middlesbrough FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Nyoni should have made it 1-1 after fantastic footwork to craft an opening, but Figueroa made no mistake from the resulting corner, picking up a loose ball in a scramble and converting via the post.
Centre-back Carter Pinnington and summer signing Armin Pecsi were vital in keeping Leeds from restoring their lead, and a stunning save from Ombang stopped a certain winner from Figueroa.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's (L-R) Trent Kone-Doherty, Kieran Morrison, Keyrol Figueroa, Josh Sonni-Lambie, Alvin Ayman line-up before the UEFA Youth League match between Eintracht Frankfurt Under-19's and Liverpool FC Under-19's at Sportpark Dreieich. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A dramatic finale saw Liverpool seal the victory with the last kick of the game, with a dubious penalty awarded for handball – and it was Morrison who found the back of the net to cap an impressive display.
TIA Man of the Match: Tommy Pilling
Liverpool U21s: Pecsi; Ramsay (Davidson 66′), Pinnington, Nallo, Ewing; Pilling, Laffey (Kelly 58′); Morrison, Nyoni, Ngumoha (Bradshaw 46′); Wright (Figueroa 58′)
Subs not used: Misciur
Next Match: Brighton (A) – Premier League 2 – Friday, January 30, 7pm (GMT)