Liverpool U21s lost 2-0 at Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy, as Jay Spearing, Rhys Williams and Kaide Gordon all started for the Reds.
Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Liverpool U21s
EFL Trophy (2), Gresty Road
October 14, 2025
Goals: Tezgel 11′ (pen), Rankine 30′
Spearing must have completed a unique achievement of sorts in football this week, having played for the Liverpool Legends and under-21s in the space of four days.
The 36-year-old coach is still registered as a player and was started by manager Rob Page to help provide experience against League Two outfit Crewe.
And while Liverpool put in a good account for themselves, two early goals saw them go down 2-0 at Gresty Road.
The hosts’ first came as a result of two loose passes from Kaide Gordon, the second of which forced goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek off his line and into a challenge with Emre Tezgel.
While Mrozek appeared to win the ball, the referee deemed it a penalty and Tezgel converted calmly.
The Crewe attacker was involved again in their next goal, as he turned neatly on the ball and played Dion Rankine in behind.
Mrozek came out to narrow the angle, but the former Chelsea academy player cleverly chipped the ‘keeper to put his side 2-0 up.
Liverpool still carried a threat, however, particularly down the left thanks to Trent Kone-Doherty’s tenacity.
The 19-year-old winger twice shot from tight angles, one effort hitting the near post, while striker Josh Sonni-Lambie was also denied from a good position.
The second half saw Liverpool U18s’ talent, Joe Bradshaw, come on for Sonni-Lambie, Amara Nallo replace Williams and Afolami Onanuga take Michael Laffey’s place in midfield.
Liverpool couldn’t find a way back into the game, though, and despite Gordon showing clever feet to shoot narrowly wide in the closing minutes, Crewe remained relatively comfortable.
The defeat means that Liverpool are now all but eliminated from this season’s EFL Trophy.
Page’s side currently sit bottom of Group H with zero points, having also lost to Burton on matchday one.
To qualify, they would need to beat Chesterfield in their last group game, hope Burton lose to Crewe and finish on a better goal difference than Burton.
That is extremely unlikely to happen, though, because there would need to be a five-goal swing to even draw level on goal difference.
Liverpool U21s: Mrozek; Ramsay, Williams (Nallo 63′), Lucky, Pitt; Laffey (Onanuga 63′), Spearing (Trueman 46′); Gordon, Pilling, Kone-Doherty; Sonni-Lambie (Bradshaw 62′)
Subs not used: Misciur, Davidson, Pinnington
Next Match: Everton U21s (H) – Premier League 2 – Sunday, October 26, 1pm (GMT)
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