Match preview: Friday night football as U18s host Newcastle
Liverpool U18s take on Newcastle United at the Kirkby Academy on Friday evening, and you can watch the encounter exclusively live on LFCTV.
Steven Gerrard’s side got their first win of the season last weekend courtesy of a thrilling 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers on home turf.
Read on for all the details you’ll need about the U18s’ next fixture.
Where is the game being played? The match is at the Kirkby Academy on Friday night, with kick-off set for 7pm BST.
How can I watch the game? We are showing the match live on LFCTV and LFCTV GO, with our coverage starting at 6.30pm. Click here for details on how to sign up now.
Last season head-to-head: Back in January, Okera Simmonds came off the bench to score the only goal of the game. Away from home, the young Reds recorded a 3-1 win with Glen McAuley, Toni Gomes and Conor Masterson on the mark.
So far this season... Liverpool drew their opening game of the season, 1-1 away at Derby County with Liam Coyle the scorer. The 3-2 win over Blackburn featured a first goal in a red shirt for Edvard Tagseth. McAuley and Coyle also found the net. As for the Geordies, Newcastle started the season with a 2-1 defeat by Manchester City, but responded to gain a 1-1 draw with rivals Sunderland in their last match.
View from the manager, Steven Gerrard
“It’s a good start to the season for us, four [points] out of six. It should be six – us coaches always want more. We’ll keep working with them and keep trying to improve them. I was very pleased for Glen McAuley to get his first goal of the season against Blackburn – he missed 10 days of pre-season with a foot injury. He is getting really close to 100 per cent now. You know with Glen, if people provide chances for him he’ll get goals; he is a finisher, that’s what his game’s all about. In terms of Liam Coyle, he’s top scorer! He’s showing the forward lads how to do it. I’m really pleased for him.”
View from the player, Liam Coyle
“It was great to get our first win of the season against Blackburn so we’ve got four points out of six and a lot to improve on as well.
“I scored my first goal in about three years in our first game at Derby and then I managed to get another one against Blackburn, which was nice.
“I’m just buzzing for the team because it’s not about me, it’s about the team.
“Steven Gerrard’s team-talks are really inspirational. I’ve already got [passion] inside myself but he gets everybody going and that little extra motivation with someone like Steven talking to us before the game is massive.”