Ipswich Town U21s continued their strong start to the Premier League 2 campaign as they beat Liverpool 3-2 at Playford Road over the weekend.

This fixture was due to be played at Portman Road but with Liverpool’s involvement in the UEFA Youth League against Galatasaray it was instead behind closed doors at the training ground.

Advertisement

John McGreal and Chris Casement’s side went into this game off the back of their impressive 4-2 win at Chelsea last time out.

Cameron Humphreys made his return from injury.(Image: Ross Halls)

TEAM NEWS

The starting XI saw first-teamers Harry Clarke at right-back, with Cameron Humphreys and Fin Barbrook in the midfield.

Clarke and Humphreys are returning from knee and calf injuries respectively.

Barbrook is on loan at League One side Lincoln City, but has only featured once in the EFL Trophy so far.

Advertisement

Town U21s: Williamson, Clarke (Elliott 46), Boniface, Mthunzi, Onuchukwu, Humphreys, Mendel, Barbrook, Boatswain (Mauge 73), Carr (c), Ayinde (Heard 73).

FIRST-HALF DELIGHT

The young Blues took the lead in 23rd minute when Somto Boniface netted his second goal in two games, with a curled effort that beat the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net.

Town went two goals ahead in the 39th minute when the in-form Tudor Mendel hit a shot into the top corner for his third goal of the campaign.

Advertisement

Tudor Mendel has now contributed to five goals in the opening five games.(Image: Ross Halls)

LIVERPOOL COMEBACK

The visitors pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when Kaide Gordon’s corner was headed home by Keyrol Norales.

In the 67th minute, they found an equaliser via Town defender Leon Eillott, who inadvertently put the ball into his own net.

LATE WINNER

It was game on for both sides, who pushed for the winning goal, and the young Blues hit the woodwork twice in the final 15 minutes via Mendel and Humphreys.

Advertisement

But, with the game entering its final stages, Town retook the lead in the 85th minute when Humphreys’ corner was met by Corbin Mthunzi, who tapped home the rebound after his initial header was saved to secure all three points.

Corbin Mthunzi scored the winner for Ipswich Town under-21s.(Image: Ross Halls)

IMPRESSIVE START

This result makes it five games unbeaten to start 2025/26, with the young Blues sitting second in the table after four wins.

Next up is a trip to Nottingham Forest on Friday, who are in the bottom half of the table after winning just once in the opening five games.