Liverpool U18s finished the season with a 3-0 defeat in the mini-derby against Everton in Kirkby, with head coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson taking charge of the team for the final time.
After an even opening exchange in the game, George Morgan and Braiden Graham scored in the first half to put Everton two goals up at the break. Rio Ngumoha, who was brought in from Chelsea last summer, started and had one chance early on for Liverpool, and Josh Sonni-Lambie, who has impressed this season, was up top.
But Liverpool was unable to find a breakthrough, even after a good start to the second half. And on 68 minutes, Everton went 3-0 up through Harvey Foster.
Bridge-Wilkinson will leave the club now the season is over. Only Nottingham Forest and Leeds United finished below the Reds in the U18 Premier League North table.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since I joined LFC but now it is time to move on to a new challenge,” he said when announcing that decision. “The Academy is a special place and it’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of the team for the past decade.
“I’d like to thank Alex Inglethorpe and Nick Marshall for giving me the opportunity and placing faith in me to move up through the age groups. A massive thank you, too, to all the coaching staff and the support team.
(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“Being a part of players’ journeys at such an important stage of their development is a huge privilege. I’ll continue to follow their careers closely.”
Bridge-Wilkinson, 46, took up his role as Liverpool U18s manager in May 2020. He has previously worked at the Liverpool Academy at the U14 age group, arriving a decade ago in 2015.
As a player, Bridge-Wilkinson was a midfielder who racked up almost 400 appearances. He had spells with the likes of Port Vale, Bradford City, Carlisle United and Darlington.
Before he worked at Liverpool, where he coached the likes of Conor Bradley during his tenure, he spent time working in Huddersfield Town’s academy. It remains to be seen where his next role will be.
