Liverpool’s Academy teams enjoyed victories over Arsenal and Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon
Kieran Morrison celebrates scoring Liverpool’s fifth goal during the Premier League 2 game against Arsenal at the Academy in Kirkby on January 17 2026(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool’s senior side may have had an afternoon of frustration but Saturday saw much better fortunes for the main Academy teams. And the highlight was a remarkable 7-0 victory for the under-21s against Arsenal in Premier League 2.
Kieran Morrison, who was handed a first-team debut by Arne Slot in October, spearheaded the romp by scoring a hat-trick as Rob Page’s side continued their good start to the year by strengthening their position in the play-off berths.
Morrison, a 19-year-old winger, opened the scoring on three minutes with a good finish having been found by Will Wright, with Tommy Pilling doubling the advantage three minutes later.
Liverpool scored twice more before the break, with Amara Nallo smashing home from 25 yards and summer signing Wright scoring his first U21s goal when turning in a pass from Trent Kone-Doherty.
Morrison completed his hat-trick with two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half, with Keyrol Figueroa finishing the scoring with a penalty after fellow substitute Clae Ewing had been fouled.
Meanwhile, the U18s made it a double with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United to earn a second successive victory in the U18 Premier League North.
Josh Sonni-Lambie settled the match for Simon Wiles’s side with his 15th goal of the season nine minutes after half-time following good work from Erik Farkas and Finn Inglethorpe.
Liverpool U21s are next in action at home to Leeds United in Premier League 2 on Sunday, January 25 (kick-off 2pm) while the U18s host Burnley next Saturday in U18 Premier League North (kick-off 11am).
LIVERPOOL U21s: Pecsi; Davidson, Pinnington, Nallo, Chambers (Ewing 62), Kelly (Onanuga 78), Morrison, Pilling, Wright (Figueroa 62), Laffey, Kone-Doherty (Bradshaw 67). Sub: Misciur.
LIVERPOOL U18s: Bernard; Hickman, Ayman, Esdaille, Clarke, Murray-Holme, Abe (O’Connor 60), Upton, Inglethorpe, Farkas, Sonni-Lambie. Subs: Conde, Wright, Powney Wain, Lee Forrester.
