Ian Doyle with the main talking points as Liverpool opened their UEFA Youth League account at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday afternoon
Luca Eden, the Liverpool record-breaker, in action in the UEFA Youth League opener
Luca Eden, the Liverpool record-breaker, in action in the UEFA Youth League opener (Image: Liverpool FC )
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Liverpool began their UEFA Youth League campaign in frustrating fashion as they surrendered a two-goal lead in a hard-fought draw with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday afternoon.
First-half strikes from defender Mor Talla Ndiaye and attacker Josh Sonni-Lambie had put the Reds' under-19s in control against the Spanish side at the Academy in Kirkby.
But after substitute Joel Sanchez pulled a goal back for the visitors midway through the second half with a super curling effort from the edge of the area, constant pressure from Atletico was rewarded in the 90th minute with an equaliser from Adrian Lis-Zielinski after Liverpool failed to clear a corner.
It made for a game of mixed emotions for Rob Page's side as they aim to continue their record of having always reached the knockout stages of the competition.
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Wright shows willing
This was always going to be a notable afternoon for Will Wright regardless of whatever happened during the game.
It was in this fixture 12 months ago the striker, having then only recently signed from Salford City, picked up a serious knee injury that sidelined him until the New Year.
Wright has been making up for lost times ever since, and has continued this term the goal-laden end to the last campaign that saw him named on the first-team bench by then boss Arne Slot.
With little protection from the referee, the 18-year-old was involved in a tussle all match with lookalike Atletico centre-back Lis-Zielinski, an example of the close attentions he can expect when stepping up to the senior game.
While he had one close effort early on, it was number 10 Sonni-Lambie who found the target with an impressive finish for Liverpool's second two minutes before the break.
And out wide, right winger Joe Bradshaw's corner assisted the opener having hit the post earlier in the game, while Oliver O'Connor's versatility saw him begin the game on the left flank and turned up at right-back for parts of the second half.
Eden Luca good
Luca Eden didn't even have to kick a ball here to become a Liverpool record-breaker. By starting the match, he became the youngest player to feature for the club in the UEFA Youth League at 15 years 182 days old, taking the record the currently-injured Josh Abe set earlier in the year.
There's been plenty of buzz around Eden in recent times among Reds supporters, exacerbated by a clip of an impressive goal for England U16s going viral on social media.
It also hasn't passed unnoticed that, as an all-action local midfielder who has been at the Academy since the age of four and here wearing the number eight, comparisons are being made with a certain former Anfield favourite. Even Eden's gait is eerily similar.
The youngster, though, is making his own way, and like Liverpool grew into this game. Indeed, it was his lobbed pass over the Atletico rearguard that sent Sonni-Lambie away to score.
But what impressed most was his physicality in midfield during a game the competitiveness of which was reflected by each side picking up four bookings apiece.
Eden understandably tired during the second half but he did not look out of place. Keep an eye on the youngster.
Prince follows footsteps
His father Djibril forged a reputation by scoring goals, but son Prince Cisse is by contrast carving his niche by helping keep them out.
Having played in a variety of positions during his debut season in the UEFA Youth League last year, here the 18-year-old was in his increasingly accustomed role of centre-back.
And he was required during an opening spell in which Atletico dominated, clearing one effort off the line and producing a great tackle to deny Miguel Llorente.
Behind him, goalkeeper Bailey Hall made a string of important saves when Atletico were on top early on, while Cisse's centre-back partner Ndiaye made one superb challenge in the second half having glanced in Bradshaw's corner to put the hosts ahead on 27 minutes.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Hall; Conde (Yeguo 73), Cisse, Ndiaye (Clarke 90+1), Ayman; Upton, Eden (Murray-Home 73); Bradshaw (Huth 81), Sonni-Lambie (Farkas 81), O'Connor; W Wright. Subs: M Wright, Coxon, Hickman. BOOKINGS: Upton, Ayman, Conde, Wright.