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The new season has brought a fresh wave of optimism, but it was a weekend of mixed results for Liverpool's Academy teams under their new head coaches.
The U18 team kicked off its Premier League North campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over Stoke City on Saturday. However, the U21 team, now led by former Wales manager Rob Page, suffered a 4-2 defeat at Leicester City in its first Premier League 2 match of the season on Monday.
Despite the loss, there were some encouraging signs for Page's team, notably another goal from Jayden Danns. The 19-year-old's goal comes as Liverpool looks to bolster its forward line in the transfer market; Alexander Isak continues to be linked with the Reds.
Yet Danns is doing all he can to remind Arne Slot of his ability.
The teenager is gradually regaining his match fitness after a lengthy absence due to a stress fracture in his back.
Danns sparked hopes of a Liverpool comeback at Leicester when he scored four minutes into the second half.
That goal reduced the deficit to 2-1 after Michael Golding and Nathaniel Opoku had given the home side a two-goal lead at the break.
However, any hopes of a turnaround were quickly extinguished as Golding and Opoku both found the net again.
Liverpool did manage to pull another goal back late on through Michael Laffey, but it was too little, too late.
Meanwhile, the U18 team enjoyed a more successful outing under new boss Simon Wiles, with 17-year-old Joe Bradshaw playing a starring role in the emphatic win at Stoke.
Bradshaw, who was the top scorer for the U18s last season and signed his first professional contract in the summer, set up DJ Esdaille for the opening goal before doubling Liverpool's lead with a superb free-kick.
Josh Sonni-Lambie scored an extraordinary goal from the halfway line after Stoke goalkeeper Lucas Knight was caught out of position, and substitute Finn Inglethorpe found the net with his first touch.
Stoke managed to pull one back through a header from Tommy McNally at a corner, but home defender Sanchez Phillips inadvertently put the ball into his own net, rounding off the scoring.
Liverpool U21s will next face Burnley at Kirkby on Monday, while the U18 players are set to travel to the Clarets on Saturday, 30 August.
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