Liverpool duo Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni were in action again after cameos in the FA Cup less than 24 hours earlier.
It was a quick turnaround for the academy duo, facing off against West Brom Under 21s at 2pm on Sunday.
Many wanted Ngumoha to start against Brighton, but he didn’t get on until the 77th minute. Nyoni, meanwhile, made the briefest of cameos in the final minutes of the game.
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Curtis Jones points to the Anfield stand in celebration during Liverpool's FA Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion
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That meant they were fresh and ready to start Sunday’s Premier League 2 clash.
And it was an impressive display from the future Liverpool stars.
Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha on the scoresheet for Liverpool Under 21s
It was quite the contest, but Liverpool emerged as victors and it was the first-teamers who stood out.
Ngumoha made up for Saturday night’s disappointment when he had a perfectly good goal ruled out, with no VAR to correct the error.
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Rio Ngumoha was robbed of a brilliant moment 😡
Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
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Against West Brom, he made no mistake with his chance. It was a goal typical of the 17-year-old, cutting in on his right foot and bending one into the far corner.
As for Nyoni, he mimicked Mohamed Salah’s FA Cup performance with a goal and an assist of his own. The assist was pure quality — a perfectly weighted through ball to Will Wright.
He was pulling the strings in a Liverpool side that was good value for the 4-3 win.
Kieran Morrison’s Liverpool hot-streak continued as he got himself on the scoresheet yet again.
He, Ngumoha and Nyoni are the players who look most ready for first-team football.
Liverpool still in Premier League 2 title race
While Arne Slot’s title retention hopes have all but disappeared, the Under 21s could yet bring Premier League glory to Anfield.
After the West Brom win, they are up to fifth and just six points off the top.
Kieran Morrison celebrates with Trent Kone-Doherty and Josh Davidson after scoring for Liverpool U21s in their Premier League 2 match against Arsenal
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
That might not stay the case with plenty of teams still to play, but there is a real chance of gaining back that ground between now and May.
No trophy can be scoffed at, and the experience of winning a title would do these academy players the world of good.
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