Liverpool Faces Familiar Foe in EFL TrophyLiverpool Faces Familiar Foe in EFL Trophy Liverpool’s Under-21 team will face a familiar face in next season’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy, formerly known as the EFL Trophy. Former youth manager Neil Critchley will lead Blackpool in Group E, alongside Liverpool’s youngsters. Critchley, who played at Liverpool for seven years and coached their youth academy, is now vying for promotion with Blackpool. However, he may also have his eyes on silverware in the trophy, where his team will face Liverpool’s Under-21s in the group stage. Joining Blackpool in Group E are Crewe Alexandra and Harrogate Town, both League Two clubs. The tournament provides invaluable experience for young players and has been a stepping stone for academy graduates like Stefan Bajcetic and others. Despite entering the competition in 2019, Liverpool only managed their first victory in the tournament last season. They reached the knockout stages but fell at the first hurdle. Nonetheless, the competition has served as a proving ground for young talent and will continue to do so in the 2024/25 season.
Liverpool will face a familiar face in next season’s EFL Trophy, now known as the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, after the group draw took place on Thursday.
The Reds reached the knockouts of this tournament for the first time last season, their first success in five attempts, and they will be aiming to go further in 2024/25.
But former youth manager Neil Critchley will look to get in their way as his Blackpool side are in the same group as Liverpool’s under-21s.
Critchley played in the club’s youth academy for seven years, including as coach of the U21 team. He even officiated a first-team match after Jurgen Klopp and his squad left mid-season.
In the years since leaving Liverpool, Critchley has gone to Blackpool, Aston Villa, QPR and then back to Blackpool, where he will again target promotion to the Championship for another season.
But he could also have his eye on some silverware when his side compete in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, where they drew with Liverpool U21s in the group stage.
- Blackpool – League One
- Crewe Alexandra – League 2
- Harrogate Town – League 2
Crewe Alexandra and Harrogate Town, both in League Two, are also in Group E, which starts in September.
Liverpool are one of 16 Premier League and Championship clubs with a youth team in the competition, a team that has proven to be an invaluable experience for the younger generations.
The Reds entered the competition for the first time in 2019 and it took 13 games before the Reds managed to win their first game in the competition. That only happened last season.
The same season saw Liverpool reach the knockouts for the first time and although they fell at the first hurdle, the competition gave more than was necessary to the club.
It exposes young players to the demands of senior football and has been a springboard for a number of academy graduates including Stefan Bajcetic, Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas.
