- City U21 are the hottest team in the division, winning their last five games without conceding a single goal.
- Liverpool U21 are also in fine form, winning four and drawing one of their last five, including a 5-0 thrashing of Wolves U21.
- Both teams have won this fixture twice in the last four meetings, with no draws ever.
Manchester City U21 vs Liverpool U21: Rivalry renewed
Monday’s Premier League 2 clash between Manchester City U21 and FC Liverpool U21 will be a real rivalry clash, pitting two in-form teams and a host of future stars against each other. This fixture will also be a platform for two contrasting tactical systems, each instilled by the respective senior sides and executed by talented young managers.
Benjamin Wilkinson has built a possession-heavy, patient side with his Manchester City U21 squad since his appointment in July 2024. City U21 sit in 7th in Premier League 2 with 31 points from 16 games, but their home record is impeccable with seven wins and one draw from eight games.
City build up play with inverted full-backs and rotational midfielders, overloading their opponent’s right-hand side with quality players in possession to break them down. Striker Carlos Borges is a constant threat, using his pace to get behind defences and his quality finishing to put it away, while midfielder Oscar Bobb has the guile and vision to carve through defences.
Expect a goal-fest
Barry Lewtas, who has been developing Liverpool’s high-tempo pressing and vertical style of play since 2020, has seen his FC Liverpool U21 side come in 3rd in the 2025-2026 Premier League 2 table with 35 points from 18 games.
Liverpool U21 have won one and drawn one of their last two away games, while they’ve won four, drawn two and lost three of their nine away games so far this season. Liverpool have scored an incredible 15 goals in nine away games in Premier League 2 this season, but will they be able to trouble City’s defensive line?
Kieran Morrison has been Liverpool U21’s talisman this term, banging in six goals in their five-match scoring run, but midfielder James McConnell provides the cool head in possession and can control the pace in the transition to press.
City will edge a high-scoring thriller
City are a much shorter price at 67/100 than their visitors at 131/50, but the value must lie with the visitors given both teams have won twice in the last four clashes and City have won all five games ahead of Monday’s clash.
Liverpool U21 are flying right now, but they failed to win in their last two visits to City’s home ground, with their hosts edging them 2-1 in Premier League 2 last season.
With both sides averaging high goal tallies in Premier League 2 this term, we’ll go with ‘Over 2.5 goals’ in this clash at a short, but tempting 27/100. With City’s incredible home record and Liverpool U21’s intense pressing and pace on the counter, I expect City to just edge a thriller.
