U18s kickstart title defence with hard-fought Liverpool win

In what was a tense opening 15 minutes in which both teams looked to find their feet in the first set of competitive minutes this term, either side could have taken an early lead.

But, on 18 minutes, City’s Teddie Lamb tapped home from close range, instantly carrying last season’s goal scoring form into the new campaign.

Just three minutes into the second half, Archie Thornton, who teed up City’s opener, then added his name to the score sheet, heading home at the back post from a precise Dexter Oliver corner.

Late drama ensued in the final minutes of the match when Finn Inglethorpe converted from the penalty spot for the visitors.

But Lauris Coggin’s young Blues were able to hold out for a win on the opening weekend of the Under-18 Premier League North campaign.

WHAT HAPPENED

A new Lead Coach and a set of fresh faces took to the field at the City Football Academy on a cloudy and thankfully cooler Saturday morning as we began our 2026/27 Under-18 Premier League North title defence.

With Coggin’s new team eager to impress in our first set of competitive match minutes, there was an impressive intensity right from kick-off.

Despite a slight lack of fluidity and connection with it being the first game of the campaign, there were promising signs ahead.

First, City had to weather a Liverpool storm in the opening 15 minutes which saw Joshua Abe and Aiden Yeguo carve out chances from wide positions for the opponents.

City’s best chances came back-to-back with Teddie Lamb and Jake Wain denied by goal line blocks as we approached the 20-minute mark.

A resulting corner from the latter allowed City to take the lead and provide a reassuring lead.

Lamb, the 2025/26 Under-18 Premier League North top goal scorer, picked up where he left off as tapped home on 18 minutes after Archie Thornton did enough at the back post to send Olly Houlihan’s corner back across the face of the Liverpool goal.

As momentum continued to switch, Finn Inglethorpe almost responded instantly.

Ben Vickery produced a good save to deny the Liverpool forward before the offside flag was raised.

A lovely backheel by Dexter Oliver sent Lamb through on 37 minutes, and the number nine was unfortunate to see his shot denied by Matthew Wright in what would have been a welcome second just before the break.

City looked to carry our momentum into the second half and that hard work was immediately rewarded.

Oliver’s well-placed corner to the back post was nodded home by towering full-back Thornton for his first ever Under-18 Premier League North goal on his debut.

Liverpool skipper Inglethorpe rattled the crossbar four minutes after the restart as the visitors sought to find a way back into the game and tested Coggin’s side to our limits.

As the click ticked past the hour mark, Lamb and Oliver once again showed an impressive link-up as the latter sent the striker in behind the Liverpool defence.

The England youth international saw his shot denied by the outstretched foot of Wright but it was another positive move after a prolonged spell of composed, clinical build-up play.

The introduction of fresh legs in Timeo Whisker, Caelan Cadamarteri and Jaxon Shire helped City keep Liverpool at bay for the final 15 minutes.

City still carved out chances through Lamb, Cadamarteri, Oliver and Marlow Barrett, with the woodwork rattled twice as the hosts peppered the Liverpool goal.

As we edged closer to what would have been an equally rewarding clean sheet, a mistimed tackle by Theo Carrington saw a Liverpool penalty awarded on 87 minutes.

Inglethorpe converted from the spot but City showed great composure to see out the win and begin our title defence on the front foot.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Vickery, Thornton (Whisker 61’), Lawrie, Barrett, Houlihan (Obin 84’), Gueke, Wain (C), Carrington, Lamb, Oliver (Shire 84’), Woode (Cadamarteri 74’).

SUBS | Grigg.  

LIVERPOOL XI | Wright, Huth, Williams, Conde, Clarke, Murray-Holme, Abe (Garin 65’), Phillips, Inglethorpe (C), Hickman (Eden 69’), Yeguo 

SUBS | Owen, Hilditch, Moran, Majekodunmi, Coxon

AS A RESULT

City begin our Under-18 Premier League North title defence with three important points.

UP NEXT

Our attention now turns to the small matter of a Manchester derby.

We travel to Carrington on Saturday 22 August, with kick-off against our cross-city rivals set for 11:00 (UK).

The game will be available to watch live on mancity.com and the Official Man City App for fans with a CITY+ subscription.