Liverpool talent just took his chance after growing up watching Daniel Sturridge

A midweek victory for Liverpool in the Champions League was only followed up by another disappointing showing back in England against Brentford, with Arne Slot's men unable to harness any momentum that 5-1 win might have generated.

But for the Reds' U21s side, that was far from the case. Some of those involved in the 5-4 win over Eintracht Frankfurt U19s in the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday took that form into the weekend, hammering Everton 4-1 in the mini-derby.

Kaide Gordon certainly caught the eye, while USMNT youth international Keyrol Figueroa, who now has five goals in eight games this season, scored a hat-trick. He impressed in Europe midweek and didn't get the goals then, but they came a few days later instead.

"It's a proud moment," Figueroa told reporters at The Academy in Kirkby, clutching the match ball. "It's been hard, especially with the situation with me not playing sometimes.

"But I take every moment in my stride and I’m so proud that I got this moment and the opportunity. The manager has given me a lot of belief in showing my talent and it’s a proud moment."

"I was looking for one of these in Europe as well (points to the ball)," he jokes. "But I was pleased with how Trent Kone-Doherty played, and Kieran Morrison as well.

"Every time I play, I want to win and that’s my first goal. The goals come afterwards. As a striker, obviously you want to score, but I’m just as happy if we win."

This summer, the former Wales manager Rob Page took over from Barry Lewtas as Liverpool's U21s boss, and Figueroa believes he has benefited from working with him over the last few months.

"When I came in, I had a lot of different solutions that I needed, and Rob gave me them," he says.

"He has seen my potential and he spoke to me and said that I’m good on the ball, I’m a fantastic striker, we’ll have everyone else work for that, and just get yourself in the box and be that lethal, ruthless number nine.

"He always says in the meetings about having energy, being disciplined, and being ruthless. Those are his core anchors and he tells us all the time that’s what we need before the game."

Figueroa is keen to forge his own path in his own style, but he also draws inspiration from elsewhere.

"I like being myself," he says. "But I go back to Liverpool back in the day when Daniel Sturridge was around. I watched him and Luis Suarez.

"Besides Liverpool, one of my favorite strikers is Karim Benzema or Didier Drogba. Harry Kane as well.

"I know Alex [Inglethorpe, the Liverpool academy director who was formerly at Spurs] used to work with him and gives me tips about that. I just take on that information and those are my players."

At times this season, Figueroa has had to wait for his chance to impress. Here, though, he took one with both hands.

"It’s difficult for U21s because you have got people like Dannsy (Jayden Danns) who have been with the first team," U21s boss Page explains.

"Understandably, he is going to take the number nine jersey. He is going to take that spot, and he did at the start of the season, off the back of Figgy having a great pre-season and probably being the top scorer.

"So it is hard for a player, especially a center-forward, when you are in a rich vein of form, like he was after pre-season, and then you don’t get the jersey.

"All I can say to that is his reaction has been exemplary. Even now, he is crediting the other players and his parents for his hat-trick. He is such a humble guy, and that is what you want to work with.

"Because of that, he has a chance of making a great career in the game. He’s a great lad and we have got some good boys in there as well."

Figueroa's father, Maynor, who was in attendance to see his hat-trick, played for Wigan Athletic and Hull City in the Premier League, and his experience in the game has proven useful during periods of frustration for Keyrol.

"This is what I speak to my family about," the 19-year-old says. "They were waiting for this opportunity and they knew that I had this ability. It took a while to show it, but now I am showing it and now I’m just going to take it into my stride for every game.

"My dad has given me tough nights sometimes but that is only because he knows I can be better. Today, my parents were here, and my family.

"Seeing them is a proud moment — every time I scored I looked back at them and celebrated. It wasn’t just my win; it was theirs as well. It speaks for itself how much my family are important to me."