Liverpool Under 18s 4-2 Derby County Under 18s: Match Report & Simon Wiles | OneFootball

Liverpool Under 18s continued their perfect start to 2026 and made it four wins from four to complete January as Simon Wiles’ side overcame a plucky Derby County outfit at the AXA on Friday afternoon. 

The Reds made a strong start to proceedings and were in the lead when the much-talked-about Joshua Abe cut inside to fire home into the bottom right-hand corner in style. 

Abe doubled the lead when 14-year-old Luca Eden released the winger with a first-time pass around the corner into space, 15-year-old Abe this time finding the opposite corner via a deflection. 

Despite being in a commanding position, as Joe Upton, Erik Farkas and Lucas Clarke all impressed early on, Derby rallied and were back in the game when they found the back of the net with the last kick of the first half. 

Wiles’ side created early opportunities in the first half but found the visiting goalkeeper in inspired form; however, County midfielder Marley Mintus was shown two yellow cards in relatively quick succession, having been adjudged to have dived twice, reducing the visitors to ten men. 

Albeit now with a numerical advantage, Liverpool struggled to put the game to bed as a contest, and although Oli O’Connor slid home to score following more direct dribbling from La’more Forrester, Derby continued to pose a threat. 

However, the game was finally put to bed when Josh Sonni Lambie, introduced as a second-half sub, fired home to make it 14 league goals this season. 

Speaking after the match, Wiles discussed the performance, Abe, and the presence of Virgil van Dijk…

On the performance: “We were always going to expect a response from the way that they scored the goal in the last nine seconds of the first half. We had to weather the early pressure, and I don’t think we did. I don’t think we did. I think the choices that we made and our decision-making when we’re looking to try and play or play through the line just needed to be better. Having too many touches at times, which ultimately against sides that want to be on the front foot and pressure, that’s playing into their hands. So we have spoken about that. We spoke about how, regardless of what sort of opponent style or possession you’re going up against, you’ve always got to move the ball quickly. And we’ve had that experience today where they came on the front foot, and we had to play through the lines quickly. And then when they lost the man, they dropped down into a little bit of a mid-block. We’ve still got to keep moving the ball quickly. And whilst we’re having too many touches and forcing things,  it just made the game more of a challenge in the second half.”

On game management: “I felt that we were our own worst enemy at times. And the way that we were, like I say, I keep using it, we were forcing passes if we didn’t need to. Because that’s all, when you’re playing in a mid-block, that’s all you’re hoping for. Trying to force things through the lines. They intercept, and then it’s go time for them. And I just think we had too many moments for that. And you would say that we looked quite open on transition, and the momentum did swing. But in saying that, when you do get the ball back on the regain, we were creating opportunities in there. Goalkeepers had an absolutely fantastic game. But we’ve got to make sure that we keep creating to hopefully put those chances away next time.”

On the learnings to take: “From our side, he would have liked it to be a little bit neater, which is fine. But development football is all about that learning. And for me, they’ve had two really big chunks of learning today with how to go and play against a man-to-man press, which was really good. And I thought we found our way really, really well in the first half. And I don’t want it to look like we’re focusing on so much of the second half because of some really, really good bits in the first half. I was really, really pleased. And I thought they had taken all the bits from the previous games and laid that up, which I was really pleased with. So we’ve just got to keep making sure those parts, we keep improving. But then the second half, when they went down to 10, it’s an opportunity to go up against a 4-4-1-1. And it’s kind of like they’re waiting for you to make that mistake, and it’s countering at your pace. The lads have got some learnings to take from today. And I’ve told them they need to make sure that they take that back and watch it back to help them move forward as well. So yes, I’m pleased overall because I thought there were two different sides today that we can all get better at. It came out on top of both those; all that matters.”

On Joshua Abe: “You can see, you just keep seeing him growing with confidence and the quality that he’s got. He’s got a real knack for when he does come inside, hitting the back of the net. That is a real talent. So it’s really exciting working with him. Seeing him perform like that. I thought the second goal was fantastic with Luca to place the ball over the top, brilliant. So yeah, Josh is in a really good place, as are Erik and Luca at this time as well, all doing really, really well.”

On Luca Eden: “He performed really well. I was really pleased with how Luca performed. He’s got a real bite to his game. He wasn’t fazed at all. I know we spoke last week about that confidence that he has. And you saw that, especially out of possession today as well. Involved in the second goal. His ball over the top for Josh Abe was fantastic. Recognised it early. Lovely weight of pass beyond. And for the last goal for Josh Sonnie Lambie, when Hayden’s on the counter, he makes that little run in behind, which takes away the defender and opens up a pass. Two really intelligent moments, which added to a number of some real good parts to his game today. So I’m really, really pleased with where he’s at. And he’s competing with the rest of the lads now, which is great. And it makes my job even better because he’s competing for shirts. He’s playing at that level, so it’s great.”

On Josh Sonni Lambie: “He’s in a good place. He’s just got to keep trying to maintain the level and consistency of performance that he’s doing and he’s showing. And in front of goal, the pleasing thing today was that he was making the keeper work as well with his chances. And it was just the keeper had one of those days, so he could have had a couple more today. But like I say, he’s getting into those areas. He’s been really clever with his movement. And he’s understanding what techniques are needed in the moments that he’s getting into. And I thought, it’s one of those, isn’t it? You know, you get into those moments today where the ball comes across, and I’m just thinking, I’ve seen this before now, shaping up. And then in with his left foot, he’s really good off both feet. So yeah, delighted for him. He’s got a big week coming this week.”

On VVD watching: “It’s great for us all, isn’t it? When the club captain comes down, and he’s in around the academy, and he’s in around our fixtures. It’s great. It shows that alignment, that everyone’s together. The fact that a skipper was here was brilliant. I can hopefully have a nice chat with him. He probably enjoyed it.”