Liverpool Youth Round-Up: Will Wright Shines as Isaac Mabaya Faces Another Injury Setback
Liverpool’s academy programme delivered a bit of everything on Saturday, goals, momentum, loose defending and one worrying setback. The headline act was clear enough. Will Wright kept scoring, Liverpool U21s thrashed Brighton 5-1, and the striker now has five goals in five games to open the 2026/27 campaign.
According to Liverpool.com, it was a strong afternoon for the U21s, even if it came with a familiar concern attached. Wright grabbed two, Josh Sonni-Lambie and Michael Laffey added to the damage, and Brighton also contributed an own goal. It was comprehensive, and from Liverpool’s point of view, that is what matters. At this level, development is the business, but winning by four while your centre-forward keeps scoring is exactly what clubs want to see.
Will Wright gives Liverpool U21s real attacking edge
There is no need to overcomplicate Wright’s form. Five in five is productive by any standard. More to the point, one of his two goals here reportedly came from around 25 yards, which tells you this was not a case of padding numbers from a couple of tap-ins. Liverpool U21s have started the season with a forward in rhythm, and those runs tend to shape everything around them. Team-mates play with more confidence, midfielders force passes earlier, and opponents start retreating.
Jayden Danns also got around 35 minutes, another useful detail ahead of the EFL Trophy tie with Rochdale. Minutes matter for players at that stage, and Liverpool will want him building sharpness steadily rather than forcing the issue.
Isaac Mabaya injury concern overshadows Brighton win
The problem is Isaac Mabaya. He set up the opening goal, then appeared to suffer a groin issue. That is the story that cuts through the result. Mabaya has already had enough trouble with fitness over an extended period, and when a player keeps getting interrupted, it stalls more than match rhythm. It affects trust in the body, selection chances and any hope of a clean run.
There is another layer here too, because he had been called up by Zimbabwe. For any young player, international recognition matters. If this latest problem rules him out, it becomes another frustrating pause in a career that needs continuity more than anything else.
Liverpool U18s show character in Derby fightback
The U18s did not win, but the 3-3 draw with Derby County still told its own story. Liverpool went 2-0 down, recovered, fell behind again at 3-2 and still found a way back. Erik Farkas and Luca Eden dragged them level the first time, then Zak Coxon made sure there would be no defeat.
That sort of game can be read in two ways. Conceding three is sloppy. Coming back twice shows resilience. Both things can be true at once, and at academy level they often are.
Farkas has also signed his first professional deal, saying, “It’s a really proud moment for me and my family,” and, “I’m just grateful and blessed to achieve something big like that.” Patrick Farkas, back at the club after time with Blackburn, added, “It’s a dream come true to sign here, I’m really happy and just excited to get started,” before explaining, “I’m enjoying being back at Liverpool, there are some new faces but it’s good to meet everyone and also see lots of old friends as well. I’m a technical player, a box-to-box player who can play in multiple positions and try to make things happen.”
Our View
From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this is one of those academy updates that leaves mixed feelings. You look at the scoreline for the U21s and you should be pleased. Five goals, Wright in form, Danns getting minutes, young lads making a case for more attention. That part is easy. The difficult bit is seeing Isaac Mabaya suffer another setback, because there comes a point where you stop talking about bad luck and start fearing for a player’s path.
That is the sad part of youth football. Not everyone’s story moves neatly forward. Some boys have the talent, but their bodies keep interrupting them. Mabaya feels like one of those cases right now, and it is hard not to feel for him. Every time he seems to have a route back, something else happens.
There is encouragement elsewhere, especially with Wright scoring so freely and Farkas progressing with a first professional contract. Those are the signs supporters want to see, young players moving towards the first-team picture. But the academy game always carries a hard truth. Form can vanish, injuries can derail momentum and not every promising name gets where fans hope.
So yes, there is optimism here, but it is guarded. The goals are good news. The fight shown by the U18s matters too. Still, the Mabaya update is the one that lingers, because supporters know how quickly time slips away for young players trying to break through.
Source: Liverpool.com
