Liverpool U21s might play their remaining recreation of the season over a month earlier than the first-team marketing campaign ends, with the younger Reds nonetheless not certified for the playoffs.
Brighton U21s 2-1 Liverpool U21s
Premier League 2 (18) | Amex Elite Efficiency Centre
April 6, 2025
Objectives: Belmont 3′, Howell 67′; Balagizi 71′
U21s coach Barry Lewtas was left to rue his aspect’s “sloppy” ending after a 2-1 defeat to Brighton which leaves Liverpool scrambling for a high 16 end.
With solely two video games remaining within the league it means if the younger Reds fail to complete sixteenth or above their season shall be over by subsequent week.
Liverpool are definitely not assured to take action, as they at the moment sit fifteenth with two video games left to play however with Nottingham Forest, Leeds and West Brom all beneath them nonetheless pushing for a playoff spot.
After 20 video games within the regular marketing campaign, Premier League 2 splits off into eight one-legged playoffs, with first going through sixteenth and so forth, earlier than subsequent quarter-finals, semi-finals and a remaining.
Lewtas’ younger Reds want 4 factors from their subsequent two video games – at house to Leeds on Sunday and away to bottom-placed Aston Villa subsequent Friday – to mathematically assure high 16, although they may additionally attain the playoffs if different outcomes go their method.
The best they’ll end is tenth although the necessity for a 10-goal swing to overhaul Leicester means it’s extra seemingly that their highest attainable putting in eleventh.
Whereas it might appear a formality that Liverpool do clinch a top-16 end their type suggests in any other case, with just one win of their final 10 video games within the league.
Sunday noticed former Liverpool academy striker Joe Belmont internet the opening purpose for Brighton, with one other from Harry Howell sufficient to consign the younger Reds to defeat.
James Balagizi marked his return to aggressive motion with a comfort within the 71st minute, having spent over two months out injured, however chatting with the membership’s official web site after the sport, Lewtas criticised his aspect’s ending.
“I’m positive Brighton is not going to have been upset with how sloppy we had been,” he conceded.
“We had alternatives to complete off an assault, however we simply perhaps have a insecurity in entrance of purpose. We simply missed too many alternatives.”
Lewtas added: “I’ve to provide Brighton credit score as a result of I’ve been fairly essential of our ending, however in equity to them if there was a shot available they blocked it.
“In the long run it’s an identical story for us and a disappointing one, however there’s a lot of positives for us to take into these subsequent two video games and we’ve simply received to attempt to get them over the road with our ending.”
Liverpool U21S: Miscir; Mabaya, pinnington, Nallo, pilling (figuroa 85′; McConnell, Nyoni (Davidson 77′); Kone-Doherty, Morrison, Ngumoha; Younger (Grown 49′)
Subs not used: Trueman, Laffey
Subsequent match: Leeds (H) – Premier League 2 – Sunday, April 13, 2pm (BST)
