3/1 To Win
Derby County Under-18s’ target this weekend will be to maintain their strong run in Premier League-North going as they travel to face Liverpool away from home, kick-off 12pm.
The Rams have won their last two league fixtures with 3-2 and 4-2 wins coming against Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough respectively – with the former seeing Derby battle back from two goals behind to claim a thrilling victory.
The latter, however, was far more assertive. Four first-half strikes from Ayomide Jibodu, Jack Haywood, Tyreece Robinson and Louie Sibley gave the side a commanding 4-1 half-time lead, with the fixture eventually being won 4-2.
Going into the clash against Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool, Rory Delap’s and Justin Walker’s side will be playing their first match for two weeks after last weekends home fixture with West Bromwich Albion was postponed. A new date for that match will be announced on dcfc.co.uk in due course.
Derby will be hoping to put together the sort of run that was witnessed earlier in the season as they head into the final two months of the campaign. An 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions from August until January has seen the Under-18s battling away in the upper reaches of Premier League-North.
Saturday’s opponents Liverpool sit two places and just three points above Derby, with the Rams having collected 26 points from their 16 fixture so far.
The continued development of players within the Derby County Academy is vitally important, and Justin Walker has recently praised the work that has gone in to give players a taste of football within higher age-groups.
Several Under-18s have been involved in Under-23s fixtures, and players from lower age-groups have also adjusted well when promoted to Walker’s and Delap’s side.
Keep updated with Derby’s meeting with Liverpool on @dcfcacademy
Words: Marc Walker
