Academy review: September
Catch up on another busy month of Academy football with our review of the key events for Liverpool's youngsters during September.
The young Reds' U23s, U19 and U18 sides scored a total of 26 goals throughout the month.
Here's our round-up of September's action...
Clarkson shines as U18s keep on winning…
Liverpool U18s kept up their impressive form during September, starting the month with an excellent 2-1 away victory at Stoke City.
Leighton Clarkson opened the scoring for Barry Lewtas’ team and then provided an assist as his corner was headed home by Tom Clayton.
Despite the home side pulling a late goal back, the young Reds were full value for the win.
O’Rourke makes his mark and a debut for Ki-Jana Hoever…
With captain Paul Glatzel rested ahead of the UEFA Youth League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, 16-year-old Scouser Fidel O’Rourke got a start for the U18s at home to Newcastle United.
The forward certainly took his chance as he netted twice, with Bobby Duncan also on the mark and Luis Longstaff neting against his former club.
There was also an impressive debut for new recruit from Ajax, Ki-Jana Hoever, at the heart of the Reds' defence.
U19s start their European campaign in style…
Liverpool produced an outstanding display as they swept aside PSG 5-2 in their opening Youth League encounter at St Helens.
With Rafael Camacho and Curtis Jones in the team, Lewtas’ charges took the game to their opponents.
Video: All the goals from the 5-2 win
Rhys Williams headed the opening goal, while Camacho netted twice with Jones and Bobby Adekanye also on scoresheet.
O’Rourke the hero in a thriller at Blackburn…
The U18s got a last-gasp winner as they edged out Blackburn Rovers in a seven-goal thriller.
After Glatzel effort was deflected into his own net by a luckless Blackburn defender, the home side stormed back to take a 2-1 lead. Glatzel and Duncan then turned the game back in Liverpool’s favour before a late goal looked to have sealed a point for Rovers.
However, O’Rourke was to have the final word as he came off the bench to fire home a dramatic stoppage-time winner.
Duncan at the double…
September ended with another eventful encounter for Lewtas’ side at Stoke in the U18s Premier League Cup group stage.
Duncan continued his prolific form with an early opener only to see the young Potters turn the game around and go 2-1 up.
But second-half comeback ensured another away-day victory for the Reds at Stoke. An own goal levelled the scores, fit-again Jack Bearne appeared off the bench to make it 3-2 and Duncan then sealed the win with his seventh goal of the season.
A harsh defeat for the U23s…
Liverpool U23s started September with a 2-1 home loss to West Ham United - although the scoreline was harsh to say the least.
After conceding an early goal from a corner, captain Matty Virtue levelled for the Reds, but Oladapo Afolayan won it for the away side with a superb free-kick.
Hammers goalkeeper Nathan Trott was the star of the show as he made numerous brilliant saves as it was just one of those days in front of goal for Neil Critchley’s side.
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Origi and Solanke among the goals…
A first win of the Premier League 2 season arrived when Swansea City visited the Academy on the same day the first team were celebrating a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
Senior players Divock Origi, Dominic Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne were all included in Kirkby and clocked up 90 minutes apiece.
After Nat Phillips powered home an unstoppable header from a corner, Origi netted a brilliant goal following a superb turn and then provided an assist for Solanke.
A night to forget...
The young Reds then endured a frustrating visit to the capital when they lost 4-0 to Arsenal.
After gifting the Gunners a two-goal lead, Critchley’s team stormed back and created some glorious chances with Lazar Markovic going close on three occasions.
However, they failed to capitalise and Arsenal subsequently grabbed another two goals.
Camacho unstoppable as Chelsea are beaten…
The month ended with a morale boosting 3-1 win at Chelsea, with Adekanye passed fit to start after being stretchered off the previous week.
Critchley’s side made a brilliant start when Camacho netted a superb opening goal following an assist from Liam Millar.
Watch: The 3-1 win in 90 seconds
The Portugal U19 international then turned provider as Virtue made it 2-0, and Chelsea pulled a goal back before the captain made it 3-1.