AcademyU21s match report: Liverpool win away at Brighton in Premier League 2
Liverpool U21s recorded a fourth successive Premier League 2 win by beating Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 on Friday night.
Kieran Morrison's sixth-minute penalty was enough to secure three points for the Reds at the Amex Elite Football Performance Centre.
The home team - who played two-thirds of the game with one player fewer - hit the woodwork twice in the second half in their nearest opportunities.
Liverpool, for whom recent new arrival Noah Adekoya made a debut, were quick out of the blocks and got ahead early on.
Slick passing on the right sent Josh Davidson racing into the area and a trip on him gave the referee no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Reds captain Morrison stepped up and rolled a confident low kick into the bottom left corner.
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It could have been two soon after as Keyrol Figueroa slid a pass through to Morrison to attack space on the right flank.
Morrison beat his man and crossed low towards the near post, where Tommy Pilling's first-time effort was blocked behind.
Next, home goalkeeper Sebastian Jensen produced an important reaction save to repel a Morrison strike from close range.
With Liverpool already largely dominant, the hosts were reduced to 10 players just prior to the half-hour mark.
As Rob Page's side launched a quick counter-attack, Figueroa was fouled by Yussif Owusu, whose action was deemed worthy of a straight red card.
The attacking momentum was mostly one-way, though the Reds were unable to find a second ahead of the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Morrison lashed one over the crossbar when a Calum Scanlon dinked cross was only half-cleared by Brighton.
The Seagulls were a whisker away from equalising a few moments later, however.
Harry Mills' delivery from the left wing was headed against the upright by Nehemiah Oriola, whose acrobatic finish in the next phase of play was ruled out for offside.
Liverpool goalkeeper Armin Pecsi caught a crisp shot from the same player as Brighton's threat grew despite the Reds controlling possession.
Michael Laffey's head was in his hands upon being denied a clincher in the 84th minute.
Substitute Lucas Pitt served in a pinpoint ball for the unmarked Laffey in the box but the No.10's finish was kept out by Jensen.
Brighton mounted more pressure during the final throes and in added time Sean Keogh's cross swerved onto the crossbar and Freddie Simmonds smashed the rebound too high.
The single goal was enough, though, for Page's squad to maintain a 100 per cent record in Premier League 2 in 2026.
Team
Liverpool U21s: Pecsi, Davidson, Pinnington, Adekoya, Scanlon (Pitt, 67), Kelly, Morrison, Pilling, Figueroa (W. Wright, 76), Laffey, Kone-Doherty.
Unused subs: Onanuga, Misciur, Bradshaw.
Next up
Liverpool are on the road again in Premier League 2 next weekend, away at Southampton.
Kick-off on Sunday February 8 is 1pm GMT.