A Vincent Joseph-inspired Liverpool U18s prevailed in a thrilling contest with Nottingham Forest U18s on Saturday, winning 4-3 in the U18 Premier League.
Nottingham Forest U18s 3-4 Liverpool U18s
U18 Premier League, Nottingham Forest Academy
April 11, 2026
Goals: Bradshaw 22′, Schluter 25′, Samuels 63′; Lee Forrester 33′, Joseph 48′, 84′, Clarke 82′
Simon Wiles’ side faced their first game since they were beaten 4-3 away to Sunderland on March 21, with 16-year-old forward Zak Coxon handed his U18s debut.
Fortunately, they won by the same scoreline on Saturday, but it threatened to be a very different story early on.
Liverpool’s youngsters made a nightmare start, finding themselves 2-0 down inside the opening half an hour, thanks to goals from Kanye Bradshaw and Gabriel Schluter.
Both had already missed chances for Forest, so the Reds couldn’t say they hadn’t been warned.
Thankfully, Liverpool reduced the arrears fairly swiftly, with La’more Lee Forrester finding the net from outside the penalty area.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest U18s 2-1 Liverpool U18s
The visitors made a perfect start to the second half, as Joseph struck three minutes after the restart, finding the net from close range.
La’more Lee Forrester scored yesterday to take him up to nine goals for the season which is a very respectable tally in a maiden U18 season. As primarily a winger.
Such a fluid dribbler as each subsequent movement flows into the next, but, also extremely quick feet when needed. pic.twitter.com/atASlmC3tn
— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) April 12, 2026
But Liverpool’s hard work was undone when Shakir Samuels scored from the right-hand side, giving Wiles’ team an uphill battle again.
The Reds didn’t allow that moment of adversity to get the better of them, though, producing a thrilling late comeback.
Lucas Clarke headed home to level the score with eight minutes remaining, and almost straight after, Joseph sealed victory with his second of the afternoon.
The highly-rated 16-year-old fired into the net from distance, as his stock continues to rise.
For Liverpool, it was a precious three points, leaving them sixth in the table and now only one point behind fourth-place Forest.
Next up for the young Reds is a trip to rivals Man United in the league at 12.30pm (BST) on Wednesday, April 29.
Liverpool U18s: Hall; O’Connor, Owen (Garin 90+2′), Conde, Clarke; Murray-Holme (Upton 61′), Eden (Hickman 74′); Lee Forrester, Farkas, Joseph (Coxon 90+3′); Yeguo
Subs not used: M. Wright
Next Match: Man United U18s (A) – U18 Premier League – Wednesday, April 29, 12.30pm (BST)