Liverpool suffers penalty heartbreak as 5 players to have impressed Arne Slot can't progress
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Liverpool U21s lost on penalties against Crystal Palace in the Premier League 2 play-offs, with Will Wright scoring twice and impressing during normal time before late heartbreakWill Wright in action for Liverpool U21s against Crystal Palace.(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool U21s have crashed out of the Premier League 2 play-offs on penalties after a goal-filled tie with Crystal Palace in Kirkby, in which 18-year-old forward Will Wright impressed.Rob Page's side went in front through Wright in the first half, but before half-time, Rio Cardines and Zach Marsh had turned the game around, giving Crystal Palace the lead.Wright netted again shortly before the hour mark to level things at 2-2, a day after he was named on the first team bench for the first time in the Premier League in the absence of Hugo Ekitike and Jayden Danns.READ MORE: Egypt national team chief reveals how long Mohamed Salah will be out forREAD MORE: Liverpool owners FSG brutally fire manager and five coaches at their other underperforming teamSigned from Salford City last summer, Wright has impressed in his debut campaign for the Reds. He is always a threat in behind and is a traditional number nine in style.Wright was bright throughout the game here, alongside Kieran Morrison and Trey Nyoni, two others who have been around the senior set-up under Arne Slot.Nyoni was alongside James McConnell in midfield on this occasion, with the latter having seen his loan at Ajax cut short.
Turning 22 in September, he may need another move when the summer comes.Liverpool Academy coach Rob Page(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Armin Pecsi, the Hungarian shot-stopper who was also on the bench at Anfield on Saturday, was in goal, while Mor Ndiaye, the center-back who arrived in January, also started.He was with the senior team yesterday, but was not officially named as a substitute, and also trained with the seniors earlier in the week as a reward for the promise that he has shown in the last couple of months.The Reds have high hopes for Ndiaye moving forward, after he was brought in from Amitie FC in Senegal.In the second half, Lucas Pitt made a couple of important blocks to stop Crystal Palace from extending its lead. Then, at 2-2, Pecsi made a couple of vital interventions.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.
Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world.The 90 minutes ended level, meaning extra time. Once again, Crystal Palace went in front, this time via Joseph Gibbard, before Keyrol Figueroa brought the teams level for a third time.Only a month ago, Liverpool had finished its league season with a 5-1 defeat to the same Crystal Palace team, also in Kirkby.With Nyoni, McConnell and Ndiaye in the side, though, and five players starting who were with the first team earlier this weekend, the result was very different.Wright, Figueroa and Michael Laffey all missed from the spot as the game ended in shootout heartbreak for the young Reds, whose season is now over.