Liverpool may be struggling for goals at first-team level of late but a new-look U18s squad has not had the same problem – with two teenagers playing a key role in that.
Arne Slot‘s first team have scored just five goals in their last five games, with the barely used Federico Chiesa playing a part in four of those.
But Simon Wiles’ U18s have not faced the same issue: in their last five games the young Reds have scored 12 goals and overall this season – including the U19s UEFA Youth League – they have 26 in 10.
It comes after a turnover of talent in the final third and a number of players being promoted from last season’s U16s squad.
That includes wingers La’more Lee Forrester, 16, and Josh Abe, 15, with Wiles explaining his ambition to “show their talent” after Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Man City.
“We wanted to threaten their back line and we had Josh and La’more out wide who we knew were threatening,” the U18s head coach told Liverpool’s official website.
“So it was just making sure we found them with the right ball so they could show their talent.”
Abe scored his first goal at U18s level in that win at the City Football Academy, and having only turned 15 in July there are clearly high hopes for his future as he is fast-tracked through the age groups.
“I think this type of game will give Josh a real experience of what the game can be like at times, as it can’t always be that he gets the ball all of the time every moment,” Wiles continued.
“There was a lot of discipline around his performance I thought and I think this experience will help him going forwards in seeing a different side of the game.”
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Striker Josh Sonni-Lambie has been the star for Liverpool’s U18s so far this season and it has come to the surprise of many that the 17-year-old has not already been promoted to the U21s ranks.
He did make his U21s debut in their 2-0 loss to League Two side Crewe in the Vertu Trophy last week, however, and in light of injuries to Jayden Danns, Will Wright and Kareem Ahmed could now be given more opportunities.
“We spoke in the dressing room after the game [against Crewe], and we just said that the things that we speak about daily, trying to improve you in certain areas, that’s the reason why,” Wiles said of a player who has eight goals and two assists in 11 games this season.
“He was up against a professional outfit with senior players and I knew what type of game it was going to be for him.
“He hasn’t come up against that so far in his development, so for him to experience that was great for him.”
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