AcademyU18s preview: 'The fixtures are relentless, but we want that exposure'

Liverpool are gaining a reputation as the entertainers in the U18 Premier League North this season.

They are the division's second-highest scorers with 33 goals from just 10 games, though have also conceded the same number.

The young Reds returned to winning ways last weekend with a 2-1 away victory at Newcastle United in the U18 Premier League Cup.

This Saturday morning, they will be back in league action as United visit the Kirkby Academy (kick-off 11am GMT) and supporters can watch the game live on LFCTV and All Red Video.

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Wiles' charges head into the contest in a buoyant mood after the U19 group qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Youth League with a game to spare in midweek.

Trent Kone-Doherty's last-gasp winner ensured Rob Page's squad sealed their spot when the competition resumes in February 2026.

Read on as Wiles spoke to Liverpoolfc.com about the season for the U18s so far and looked ahead to this weekend's meeting with his former club.

On the season to date…

I think we are evolving, that's the best way I could reflect on it all. There has been some really good moments, especially those early games in the season and the style we want to play and individuals playing at the level we want to see them at. I also think as we have progressed through the season, we have had our other challenges with the UEFA Youth League as well as the U17 Cup. The fixtures are relentless, which is great because if the players are going to get to the level they want then that is what they have got to get their bodies used to, that exposure of what it's going to be like playing every three days.

With that obviously brings up different challenges. When you are going up against teams who might not have had those games midweek and they are fresh, I think for our players to get exposure to that test has been fantastic for them. Even though we haven't got the result we would like, or the performance we would like, we always have to remember we are in development football. The most important thing is the lads are getting exposure to potentially what it could feel like if they make a career in the game.

On the whole, it has definitely been moving in the right direction in regards to some performances, but I'm delighted where the lads are at right now, that is the most important thing. Players have been progressing working with Tosh [Anthony Ryan] and some of the stuff we have been doing on the training ground has been really pleasing, and I'd like to think the lads are in a good place as well. I have really enjoyed it here so far, they are a good group of lads and all we can keep doing is making sure we keep challenging them in the right way and see how they perform.

On the form of 12-goal Josh Sonni-Lambie so far…

Josh knows where the back of the net is and he has scored some fantastic goals and provided assists. We know Josh is a talent, he is a threat and he has that awareness as well. When you are looking at your team you want that level of performance and you need to make sure, especially with your top line, they are adding numbers to it with assists and goals. I know this is a crazy stat but we have scored a lot of goals and we have also conceded a lot of goals! That just shows where we are at, especially that top line for sure. We have a lot of creativity up there. Josh has just got to keep his head down and keep working hard, and produce that same level for the U19s under Rob in the UEFA Youth League.

On trying to tighten up defensively...

You don't want to put excuses on why we have conceded so many goals so far, because ultimately we want to give the lads game time and get them up to the level we know they can get to. Defensively has been our Achilles heel unfortunately. We have had injuries all across the back and we have been playing midfielders at full-back, pairings at centre-half have had to change a lot. We have a lad in there in Prince Cisse who has done really well in a new position but he is learning that role.

So, there has been a few things we have had to deal with and we have missed key players at the back. I always say, though, regardless of that it gives other players opportunities. That gives them the chance to perform and trying to help them in those moments is part and parcel of the job. The defenders who have been out will be returning to fitness soon and that is something we will look forward to.

On Saturday's meeting with Manchester United…

It's an exciting game and we are looking forward to it. It's one of those games that all of the players are looking forward to. For me, and I always say this to the players, it's just the next game in the schedule but I know for the players this game and Everton are the ones they most look forward to. It's going to be a really good test and as long as the lads are ready to work hard I'm sure they will give a good account of themselves and that's what I'm looking forward to.

We played Everton at home this season and although we lost the game, that could easily have been a different result with the great chances we created. The way we performed against Everton, I was really pleased. When you watch that game back, the amount of not just chances but they were golden chances I would say we had, that unfortunately we didn't take. The players need to learn from these experiences when you are one-v-one with the goalkeeper and you need to be clinical.

There was also moments in that game when we got slack and got punished for it. You look at the whole picture from that game and yes we got punished for some individual moments, which is fine, because the lads have to learn from that. I don't want us to just be a side that keeps the ball for keep-the-ball sake. We have to be really purposeful with how we play and create. Hopefully we get some of those chances on Saturday and we take them.