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

The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
Show more
The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
Show more
After falling behind early on, Bayer 04 took control of the game against a combative and disciplined FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. However, they lacked the necessary precision in finishing and hit the post and crossbar three times. After the game, coach Kasper Hjulmand said he wanted to get back to the "right philosophy" of previous matches with three games left in 2025. The Werkself review.
Show more