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Will Wright hint vs. Man United as Liverpool U21s thrash national team 4-1

Will Wright is expected to make the squad as Liverpool visit Man United in the Premier League, having been absent as the U21s thrashed Liberia 4-1 at the AXA.

Wright could make the bench for a second successive first-team game after stepping up to the senior squad following Hugo Ekitike‘s injury.

The 18-year-old striker has capped an impressive debut campaign with a promotion to Arne Slot‘s ranks, also benefiting from the continued absence of Jayden Danns.

Neither Danns nor Wright were involved as Liverpool U21s hosted the Liberia national team for a friendly at the AXA Training Centre on Saturday.

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)

Keyrol Figueroa instead led the line and scored twice in a 4-1 victory, with Tommy Pilling and Kareem Ahmed also finding the back of the net in a game organised after the young Reds’ exit from the Premier League 2 playoffs.

According to academy source Lewis Bower on X, none of the youngsters involved in first-team training in the buildup to the Man United game were part of the U21s squad.

That means U21s captain Kieran Morrison and centre-backs Mor Talla Ndiaye and Amara Nallo could also be in contention for the bench at Old Trafford.

Will Wright to make squad with Alexander Isak out?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Unconfirmed reports claim Alexander Isak could miss Sunday’s 3.30pm kickoff with a groin injury, which would increase Wright’s chances of minutes.

If Isak is absent it would mean a start for Cody Gakpo, and with Mohamed Salah also absent along with Ekitike there is a shortage of natural attacking options.

Liverpool signed Wright from Salford City last summer in a deal worth around £200,000, having convinced the teenager to snub a more lucrative move to Arsenal.

Despite a serious knee injury on his debut for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League in September, he has recovered and gone on to score six goals and lay on five assists in 16 games for the U21s.

KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2026: Liverpool's Will Wright celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Premier League 2 match between Liverpool FC Under-21's and Tottenham Hotspur FC Under-21's at the Liverpool Academy. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Two of those goals came in the eventual penalty shootout defeat to Crystal Palace in their round-of-16 playoff last weekend.

Slot knows he will be without Giorgi Mamardashvili, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic on Sunday along with Salah, Ekitike and Danns.

Alisson remains a doubt having not trained following a hamstring injury, with Freddie Woodman on standby to start again with U21s goalkeeper Armin Pecsi on the bench.

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