Liverpool's main Academy sides had reason to celebrate this weekend with victories over Leeds United and Burnley
Luca Eden celebrates scoring Liverpool's seventh goal during the U18 Premier League match against Burnley at the Academy in Kirkby on January 24 2026
Luca Eden celebrates scoring Liverpool's seventh goal during the U18 Premier League match against Burnley at the Academy in Kirkby on January 24 2026(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The senior side may have suffered late woe at Bournemouth the previous day. But, for Liverpool's under-21 side, there was delightful drama with the last kick of the match on another good weekend for the Academy teams.
Kieran Morrison converted an injury-time penalty to ensure the Reds came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 in Premier League 2 at Kirkby on Sunday afternoon to strengthen their claims for a play-off berth.
It came the day after Josh Sonni-Lambie continued his goalscoring form with a hat-trick for the U18s in a game in which 14-year-old Luca Eden became the youngest-ever goalscorer for Liverpool at that age group.
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Rob Page's U21s were bolstered by the inclusion of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha in the starting line-up, the latter having made an impressive cameo for the first team at Bournemouth the previous evening.
Liverpool went behind in the 11th minute when Marley Wilson converted from the spot after a foul by Amara Nallo. With Ngumoha impressing in a 45-minute stint, the Reds remained in the game but had to wait until the 74th minute to draw level when substitute Keyrol Figueroa pounced on a bouncing ball in the box to net an 11th goal in his last 10 Premier League 2 outings.
And the Reds secured the three points in the third minute of stoppage time when Morrison kept his nerve from the spot after a handball.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's U18s maintained their good start to the year in emphatic fashion with a 7-1 romp against Burnley at the Academy on Saturday.
Having gone behind to an early goal from Braidin Derbyshire, Simon Wiles's side notched four times before the break with Sonni-Lambie claiming a hat-trick to move on to 18 goals for the campaign.
The first two were penalties after Josh Abe and Finn Inglethorpe were fouled, while his third just before the interval came from a good finish having been found by Erik Farkas.
Farkas, a 16-year-old midfielder, had set up the third for 15-year-old Abe, while substitute La'more Lee Forrester - who came on for the injured Inglethorpe - scored twice after the break with his second assisted by Lucas Clarke.
And the moment to remember for Eden came in additional time when, having replaced Joe Upton at half-time, the 14-year-old converted from the spot having won a penalty.
Liverpool U21s are next in Premier League 2 action on Friday at Brighton (kick-off 7pm) while the U18s host Derby County in the U18 Premier League North at the Academy earlier the same day (kick-off 12pm).
LIVERPOOL U21s: Pecsi; Ramsay (Davidson 66), Pinnington, Nallo, Ewing, Nyoni, Morrison, Pilling, W Wright (Figueroa 59), Laffey (Kelly 59), Ngumoha (Bradshaw 46). Sub: Misciur.
LIVERPOOL U18s: Bernard; Hickman, Ayman, Esdaille, Clarke, Murray-Holme, Abe (Conde 67), Upton (Eden 46), Inglethorpe (Lee Forrester 15), Farkas, Sonni-Lambie (O'Connor 60). Sub: M Wright.