u18 Debut Appearance(s):
AM Josh Blake | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 |

Match Report:
Aston Villa kicked off their Under-18 Premier League Cup campaign successfully on Tuesday evening, defeating Liverpool 2-1 away. 
First-half goals from Markie Meade and Woody Burgess allowed Richard Beale’s Young Lions to take an early two-goal lead at the Reds’ AXA Training Centre.
Josh Sonni-Lambie quickly reduced the gap for Liverpool, but Villa maintained their lead to start their Group B campaign with a victory.
Beale made four personnel changes from his starting lineup, which had previously opened the season with a 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, beginning Villa's defence of their Under-18 Premier League title.
Newcomers Ollie Bindley, Harry Pinnell, Jacob Green, and Markie Meade entered the team, while Josh Blake, a recent England Under-15s debutant, made his first appearance on the substitutes' Bench.
The Villans started strongly, taking just 11 minutes to score through Burgess,
who delivered an unstoppable left-footed shot into the top corner from outside the box.
Seven minutes later, Meade capitalised on a defensive mistake to extend Villa's lead, scoring his first goal of the season
after a one-on-one opportunity. Liverpool responded within three minutes by halving the deficit, as Sonni-Lambie finished Joe Bradshaw’s cross to make it 2- 1.
The Reds pressed for an equaliser in the remaining minutes of the first half, creating several chances but failing to convert.
In the second half, Liverpool dominated possession and intensified their attack, with
Owen Asemota made a crucial save to deny La’more Lee Forrester’s strike off the crossbar.
Liverpool’s challenge became tougher with 14 minutes remaining when Harvey Owen received a second booking and was sent off. Despite
this setback, Liverpool searched for an equaliser until the final whistle, with Villa’s defence heroically blocking Bradshaw's shot and Asemota saving a header from Ayman.
Villa ultimately secured a hard-fought 2- 1 victory, beginning their Group B campaign with three points.

2025-26 u18 Premier League Cup Appearance & Goal Record
GK Owen Asemota | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | 🥅 1 | ⛔ 0 | 🇺0 |
RB Jacob Green | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CB Junior Wilson | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CB Farid Addey | 🇸🇪 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
LB Finlay Barnard | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
LB Harry Pinnell | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
DM Woody Burgess | 🇩🇪 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 1 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CM Oliver Bindley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
AM Max Jenner | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
F Vinnie Hayward | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CF Markie Meade | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 1 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 1 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
RB Clay Atkins | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
AM Jahmi Kellyman | 🇬🇧 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
CM Lennon Melhuish | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
AM Josh Blake | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 1 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 1 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺0 |
GK Rhys Oakley | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | 2025-26 u18PLC 🕒 0 | ✅ 0 | 🔁 0 | ⚽ 0 | 🔥 0 | 🇺1 |