Liverpool's main Academy teams were left frustrated late on at the weekend
Josh Sonni-Lambie of Liverpool and Lewis Evans of Everton in action during the U18 Premier League North match at Finch Farm on February 7 2026
Josh Sonni-Lambie of Liverpool and Lewis Evans of Everton in action during the U18 Premier League North match at Finch Farm on February 7 2026(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View Image
It wasn't just the Liverpool senior team who suffered late gloom. At the Academy, both the main teams were on the receiving end of setbacks in the closing moments on a weekend of frustration.
On Sunday afternoon, the under-21s were close to securing a fifth successive Premier League 2 victory before they were held to a draw at Southampton.
Rob Page's side played three-quarters of the game with 10 men after Amara Nallo was sent off for a raised foot while attempting a slide challenge. Liverpool had gone ahead shortly before on 20 minutes when Tommy Pilling headed in a cross from Kieran Morrison.
The Reds were then forced into a rearguard action with summer signing Armin Pecsi making a number of good saves.
But Southampton - who are helmed by former Liverpool favourite Adam Lallana - drew level two minutes from time when substitute Noah Adekoya brought down Nicholas Oyekunle, who then scored from the spot.
The previous day saw Liverpool's U18s suffer their first loss of the calendar year in dramatic fashion in the mini-derby against Everton at Finch Farm.
The visitors were behind just before the half-hour in unfortunate fashion when Prince Cisse succeeded only in putting the ball into his own net when stretching to clear a Shea Pita cross.
Liverpool levelled on the stroke of half-time when La'more Lee Forrester finished well after good work from Ellis Hickman and Erik Farkas. But after a closely-fought second half, Everton snatched a winner on 87 minutes when Ademide Akarakiri struck a deflected effort after Liverpool failed to clear a corner.
Liverpool U21s are next in Premier League 2 action on Sunday at home to West Bromwich Albion (kick-off 2pm) while the U18s take on Leeds United in the U18 Premier League North at Kirkby (kick-off 11am).
LIVERPOOL U21s: Pecsi; Davidson, Pinnington, Nallo, Ewing, Kelly (Onanuga 71), Morrison, Pilling, Figueroa (W Wright 55), Laffey, Kone-Doherty (Adekoya 27). Subs: Poytress, Bradshaw.
LIVERPOOL U18s: Misciur, Hickman, Williams (Ayman 46), Cisse, Clarke, Murray-Holme (Upton 55), Abe, O'Connor, Lee Forrester, Farkas, Sonni-Lambie. Subs: M Wright, Owen, Conde.