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On Tuesday evening we welcome Liverpool U21s to The Exercise Stadium for our first match in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy this season. 

Town will head into the clash looking to bounce back quickly following Saturday afternoon’s away defeat to Crewe Alexandra in Sky Bet League Two.

Our opponents

Liverpool U21s come into the match aiming to recover from a tough 5-1 loss to Town's weekend opponents in this competition on 27th August. 

As a result, the young Reds sit at the bottom of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Northern Group E. Despite this, they have shown flashes of brilliance in previous matches in the PL2, including a commanding 3-1 victory over Derby County U21s, a thrilling 3-2 win against Sunderland U21s, and a strong 3-1 triumph over Manchester City U21s. 

History

The Liverpool U21 team, an integral part of Liverpool FC's academy, has a rich history of developing some of the finest talents in football including Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. Last season, the team displayed moments of brilliance, finishing 8th in the Premier League 2 group stage and ultimately losing to Spurs in the quarter-finals.

Previous meetings 

Tomorrow’s fixture will mark the first-ever meeting between the two sides. 

The man in charge

Barry Lewtas has been key to Liverpool FC's youth development since 2013 when he took charge of the U12 squad at the Kirkby Academy. His leadership and coaching acumen quickly became evident, leading to his promotion to head of the U16s and eventually to the U18s in July 2018. Here, he guided the U18s to victory in the FA Youth Cup during his first season, where they triumphed over Manchester City in a tense penalty shootout. This promotion meant Lewtas followed in the footsteps of Steven Gerrard, who previously held the role. 

In May 2020, he took on the role of U21s (then U23s) head coach, a position previously held by Neil Critchley before his departure to Blackpool. 

In addition to his current responsibilities with the U21s, Lewtas also leads the U19 side in the UEFA Youth League, continuing his significant contribution to the development of Liverpool's next generation of talent.

Ones to watch 

Named man of the match in England U21's game against Northern Ireland on 7th September, Jarell Quansah has been a standout talent in Liverpool's academy since joining at the age of five. His journey through the ranks saw him captain the U18s to the FA Youth Cup final in 2021. 

Starting in first team club friendlies against Real Betis, Sevilla, and Arsenal, as well as in the Premier League match against Ipswich, Quansah has also featured on the bench for league games against Brentford, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan, and Bournemouth. Despite his senior team involvement, Quansah remains eligible for the U21 squad, offering the Reds an experienced and reliable option if additional defensive stability is needed.

Dominic Corness, who scored in Liverpool U21’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City U21 and the only goal in their recent defeat against Crewe, has rejoined Liverpool’s academy following a successful loan spell at Yverdon Sport in the Swiss Super League last season. A dynamic midfielder, Corness has also shone on the international stage, scoring once for England U15 and adding three goals for England U20 under Ian Foster.

Kyle Kelly is the only Liverpool U21 player to represent an international men’s first team, having debuted for Saint Kitts and Nevis in March 2024. The central midfielder signed his first professional contract with Liverpool FC in October 2022. A regular in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's U18 squad, Kelly netted his first goal in the mini-derby against Everton during the 2022-23 season. He’s been part of the Academy since 2018 and officially joined the Reds in September 2020. 

Team news

Town will remain without George Thomson and Matty Daly for tomorrow’s match as they continue to recover from ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.