Preview'Vertu Trophy participation gives us a good test for many reasons'
Rob Page considers the Vertu Trophy a fantastic opportunity for his Liverpool U21s players to learn about the senior game and showcase their talents.
The young Reds begin their participation in the competition's group stage away to League One outfit Burton Albion tonight, and will also face trips to Chesterfield and Crewe Alexandra.
After losses against Leicester City and Burnley at the start of the campaign, Page's side gained their first win of 2025-26 on Friday night with a 2-1 result at Stoke City thanks to a late goal from substitute Keyrol Figueroa.
They now head to Pirelli Stadium to meet Gary Bowyer's senior Burton side, with kick-off 7pm BST.
To preview the tie, Page spoke to Liverpoolfc.com about the merits of his team competing in the Vertu Trophy again, how striker Will Wright is settling in following his move from Salford City, and more.
Read the Q&A below...
On a first win of the season at Stoke…
The lads did really well and I was really proud of them. If I look back at our last performance at Burnley, we certainly created enough chances but we just weren't clinical enough in our final actions, which is a work in progress for the lads. Their attitude, their endeavour to grind out the result at Stoke was excellent.
I said to the lads before the game, it's what the first-team lads had to do when they went to Newcastle; it's not always going to be pretty and you've got to earn the right to play any game of football. They did that and some on Friday night, so full credit to the players. Michael Laffey in the middle of the park clocked up 13k, which is elite by anybody's standards. I can't praise the lads enough for their work-rate and effort, and that's all of them, by the way, and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.
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On Figueroa's late winner off the bench…
It was a great moment for Figgy and I'm pleased for him because he's worked really hard in pre-season. It doesn't always have to be a pretty goal, as we created enough chances before that looked prettier than Figgy's goal but it doesn't matter as he was in the right place at the right time, striker's instinct, so credit to him for that. He deserved it.
He's had to be patient, he has seen Will come in and Will is going to have a bright future and I thought he was excellent on his first start for us. Figgy has had to be patient and all he can do is take control of himself, and when he comes on and scores a goal on Friday night, that's all he can do.
On Wright getting into some good positions and making himself a handful for the opposition…
The goals will come, no doubt. He is still acclimatising to full-time football at this level but as a character he is first-class, I must say that. As a person he is brilliant. So, he has got a chance just because of the person he is and he is willing to learn, he's a humble guy and he's had an incredible month in life really, signing for Liverpool, nearly scoring at the Kop, it's been incredible and how he has adapted to it is a credit to him and his family.
On Lucas Pitt returning from injury on his first start in Premier League 2 and making several important blocks…
Lucas was itching to get involved, we made a decision to change it and freshen it up and that's no reflection on performances before from other people, but it was just an opportunity to give us a bit more something on the outside with Trent Kone-Doherty and I think they worked well together and were always a threat in behind. Lucas did well alongside the others. I thought Ben Trueman in the middle of the park, his first start in Premier League 2, what a footballer Ben is. We just need to get him fully fit.
On the challenge for his young players of facing Burton tonight…
It is a good test and for many reasons. One being [that] they are a professional outfit and it will be a physical battle as much as anything. And secondly, we are weakened by the fact we've got a lot of players on international duty, but what it does give is other players the opportunity to step up and play. It's an opportunity for them to grab the jersey and be exposed to senior football. It's a tough test but we will get the lads recovered and they will be ready. Concentration will be key for us because if you switch off against better opposition, better players, you will get punished. So we need to be aware.