Liverpool U21s opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw against Vauxhall Motors at the AXA Training Centre, while the U18s were beaten by Crewe Alexandra
15:12, 18 Jul 2026Updated 15:22, 18 Jul 2026
Joe Bradshaw in action for Liverpool's U18s last season.
Joe Bradshaw in action for Liverpool's U18s last season.(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool's U21s drew 1-1 with Vauxhall Motors at the AXA Training Centre in a behind-closed-doors friendly today, with Joe Bradshaw scoring in a 60-minute game.
Meanwhile, the Reds' U18s were beaten 2-0 by League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra as the pre-season games got underway for the young Reds sides ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
In the U21s clash in Kirkby, a free-kick from Finlay Heath saw the Northern Premier League Division One West side take the lead. Bradshaw missed narrowly at the end of the first half before notching from close range early in the second to level things up.
The game ended in a tie, despite both teams going for the win late on. Oliver O'Connor, who signed a new contract with Liverpool this week, went close, and Bradshaw could have won it.
Among the players to feature, aside from those already mentioned, were Kornel Misciur, Noah Adekoya, Amara Nallo, DJ Esdaille, Prince Cisse, Michael Laffey, Kyle Kelly, Afolami Onanuga, Joe Upton and Tommy Pilling.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has been working with several young talents in senior training this week. He also oversaw U21s training earlier in the month alongside Rob Page.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) U21 head coach Rob Page speaks with head coach Andoni Iraola of Liverpool during an U21 training session at AXA Training Centre on July 09, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola speaks to U21s coach Rob Page(Image: Getty Images)
"The senior players have played in the World Cup, they’ve been feeling the pressure, and they’ve been playing for their countries, so I think they need and deserve a rest," Iraola said when he arrived.
"This also allows us to give folks important minutes, to train more closely with the young players that probably we don’t know as well, because we’ve been here already three seasons playing a lot of times against Liverpool and there are players that we already know.
"But there are other players probably that haven’t had the minutes, have played for the development squad, have been on loan somewhere and I think those training, those minutes will be for us to take decisions very well."
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Elaborating on his style of play and the kind of players that he likes, Iraola added: "I think I have the advantage that I’ve been here already three years in the Premier League.
"People for sure have seen Bournemouth play. There are some things that obviously we need to change coaching Liverpool.
"But I wouldn’t like to lose our identity, the intensity, the aggressiveness, the organization, certain things that I would like always to have in my team."
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