The weekend brought mixed fortunes for the main Liverpool Academy sides under the leadership of their recently appointed managers.

The U 18s cruised to a 5-1 triumph at Stoke City on Saturday in their opening U18 Premier League North fixture with Simon Wiles in charge, while the U21s, now coached by ex-Wales boss Rob Page, fell to a 4-2 defeat at Leicester City on Monday in their first Premier League 2 clash of the season.

Despite the setback, Page’s squad found encouragement, especially with another strike from Jayden Danns. The 19-year-old is steadily building match sharpness after missing most of the year because of a stress fracture in his back.

Danns, who featured for an hour, gave Liverpool hope at Leicester by scoring just four minutes into the second half, halving the hosts’ 2-0 advantage earned by Michael Golding and Nathaniel Opoku. His goal, a superb top-corner effort, came via Michael Laffey’s assist.

That optimism was short-lived though, as both Golding and Opoku struck again in quick succession. Liverpool, with Calvin Ramsay starting at right-back, managed a late consolation through Laffey, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Meanwhile, new U 18 boss Wiles enjoyed a brighter debut as 17-year-old Joe Bradshaw inspired the youngsters to an emphatic win away at Stoke.

Bradshaw, who topped the U18 scoring charts last term and penned his first pro deal this summer, set up DJ Esdaille’s opener before curling in a brilliant free-kick to double Liverpool’s advantage.

Josh Sonni-Lambie then produced a spectacular strike from the halfway line after Stoke keeper Lucas Knight was stranded out of position. Substitute Finn Inglethorpe followed with a goal from his very first touch.

Stoke pulled one back through Tommy McNally’s header from a corner, but home defender Sanchez Phillips scored an own goal to complete the rout.