First defeat in fourth Youth League match

After two wins and a draw, the Bayer 04 U19s went down to their first defeat in the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League, losing 4-1 at Liverpool FC despite taking an early lead.

Head coach Sergi Runge named the same team as in the 1-1 draw at Stade Brest in the last Youth League fixture.

early lead - equaliser before half-time

The game at the Liverpool FC Training Ground in Kirkby, where DFB sporting director Rudi Völler was among the spectators, began with an early penalty for Bayer 04 when Montrell Culbreah was brought down by LFC goalkeeper Kornel Misciur. Kerim Alajbegovic buried the spot-kick into the left corner (5'). At the other end, Jesper Schlich denied Ranel Young a quick equaliser (8'). The Liverpool youngsters gradually seized control after that but found it hard to find gaps in the well-organised Leverkusen defence.

Culbreath had the next big chance of the game but his shot hit the post (22'). Liverpool's pressure eventually paid off in the 36 minutes, when Kieran Morrison's shot from 16 metres found the net. The last notable action of the first half fell to Artem Stepanov in stoppage time, but he was unable to regain the lead for B04.

lots of bayer 04 chances but lfc score

Stepanov also had the first opening of the second period when he was set up by Alajbegovic, but the forward was again denied by Misciur (47'). The Liverpool keeper was kept busy after that, making another good save from Alajbegovic before the same two players again failed to hit the target (50', 52'). Despite huge pressure from Leverkusen in this period, the hosts' first attacking moment of the half led to the next goal, Liverpool-born Carter Pinnington heading home from close range after a free kick (57').

The visitors from Leverkusen didn't let their heads drop, with further chances for Stepanov (65') and Culbreah (67'). But again LFC were more clinical and substitute Keyrol Figueroa scored to make it 3-1 (75'). Stepanov had one more big opportunity to get Bayer 04 back in the contest, but it wasn't to be. Instead, Trent Kone-Doherty finished off a counter for Liverpool to make it 4-1 (90'+2) and Leverkusen came away with their first defeat in the Youth League.

Match stats:

Liverpool: Misciur - Pinnington, Nallo, Lucky, Davidson - Nyoni, Laffey, Morrison - Kone-Doherty, Young (Figueroa 72'), Ngumoha (Bradshaw 88')

Bayer 04: Schlich - Raterink, Pohl, Natali, Hawighorst (Kister 75') - N. Mensah, Buono (Owen 75') - Culbreath, J. Mensah (Ndi 75'), Alajbegovic - Stepanov

Goals: 0-1 Alajbegovic (5' pen), 1-1 Morrison (36'), 1-2 Pinnington (57'), 1-3 Figueroa (75'), 1-4 Kone-Doherty (90'+2)

Yellow cards: Kone-Doherty, Young / Alajbegovic, Pohl

Referee: Georgi Ginchev (Bulgaria)

Attendance: 230 at the Liverpool FC Academy Training Ground