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
Bayer 04 are away to FC Copenhagen on the first matchday of the league phase in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. The game against the Danish record champions is on Thursday, 18 September (kick-off: 18:45 CEST) at the Parken Stadium. Ahead of the match, here are some travel tips from Bayer 04 partner weloveholidays for all travelling fans of the Werkself.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 3-2 win against 1. FC Union Berlin on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26...
Show moreThe successor to Sergi Runge as head coach of the Bayer 04 U19 team has been decided. Following the Spaniard's appointment to Kasper Hjulmand's first team coaching staff, the current U17 head coach Kevin Brok (photo) will be responsible for the U19s until the end of the season. As a result, Benjamin Adam will also move up a year and will now coach the U17s instead of the U16s, also until the end of the season. The structure of the coaching and support staff will remain unchanged.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Mainz 05 on matchday 7 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game at the MEWA ARENA is on Saturday, 18 October, with the kick-off at 15.30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show more