Liverpool U23s and U18s both enjoy midweek friendly success at Kirkby academy

While many of their senior colleagues have headed off on international duty, both the Liverpool U23s and U18s have been in friendly action.

Kamil Grabara, Corey Whelan, Ovie Ejaria, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn have also left to represent their countries at various levels, but the work hasn’t stopped for Michael Beale and Neil Critchley.

Beale led his U23s side out against Runcorn FC on Tuesday afternoon, with Whelan making his final appearance before departing for the Republic of Ireland U21s’ training camp in Spain.

Tom Brewitt, Joe Maguire, Nathan Phillips, Cameron Brannagan, Juanma, Yan Dhanda and Madger Gomes were among those to also feature.

It was Toni Gomes who opened the scoring against the local outfit, who filled in at the last minute after Welsh side TNS pulled out, with the 17-year-old benefiting from an assist from his namesake, Madger.

Madger then got himself on the scoresheet, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead, and while Glen McAuley saw a second-half effort ruled out, it proved to be a comfortable victory for Beale’s side.

Dhanda, McAuley, Juanma and Jordan Williams were all brought on from the substitutes’ bench, with Brannagan among those to play the full 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, the U18s took on Crewe Alexandra on Wednesday afternoon, with Dhanda and McAuley turning out for the second time in two days.

Critchley also included the likes of Conor Masterson, Rafael Camacho, Bobby Adekanye and Rhian Brewster, with the latter scoring an impressive double after his recent heroics for the England U17s.

Brewster netted a penalty in the Young Lions’ 3-2 victory over Austria U17s at the end of October, helping seal their place in the elite round of qualification for the European U17 Championship, and he added another brace against Crewe.

This came after a header from left-back George Johnston, as the Reds secured a 3-0 victory.

Jurgen Klopp‘s first team are due to play a behind-closed-doors friendly during the November international break, and some of Beale and Critchley’s stars could hope to take part.

Liverpool U23s vs. Runcorn FC: Firth; Whelan (Dhanda 45′), N Phillips, Brewitt, K Lewis, Maguire; Brimmer (Williams 60), Brannagan, M Gomes; T Gomes (McAuley 75′) Alves (Juanma 60′)

Liverpool U18s vs. Crewe Alexandra: Williams; Driscoll-Glennon, Owens, Masterson, Johnston (Lattie 50′); Coyle, Camacho (Dhanda 77′), Hunter; McAuley (Simmonds 50′), Adekanye (Blair 70), Brewster