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More than 4,300 fans saw Liverpool’s young development team get their Irish tour off to a winning start last weekend – and witnessed the debut of former Barcelona ‘wonderkid’ Bobby Adekanye.

It was an impressive start from the 16-year-old as he set up Liverpool’s opening goal in a 2-0 win over Cork City on Saturday night.

Adekanye, born in Nigeria but brought up in Holland, was snapped up by the Reds as a free agent after FIFA ruled Barcelona had signed him illegally to their famed La Masia Academy from Ajax, aged 12, in 2011.

That prevented him playing competitively for Barca and Liverpool swooped after he had spent the past year on loan at PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool U18s coach Neil Critchley said the player was settling in well with his new team-mates and said the game had been an excellent occasion for a very inexperienced Reds line-up, with all 11 players changed at half-time.

He told the ECHO: “Bobby did well for the goal, beat his man and got a cross in. Toni Gomes made a good run to the front post and flicked it in across the goalkeeper.

“I think Bobby is going to catch the eye this year with his ability on the ball. He can play either side and he’s really quick with the ball at his feet.

(Image: James Maloney)

“He can shift the ball from a standing start and create space in two or three yards which makes him very dangerous. He can play either side as well and he’s going to cause problems for teams. He likes the ball to his feet and in one on one situations he’s going to create space for himself.

“He’s a great kid, he’s settled in really well with the lads and I’m delighted he’s joined us.”

Elijah Dixon-Bonner also makes Reds debut after move from Arsenal

In their report of the game, Irish football website Extratime said of Adekanye: “The player signed from Barcelona showed that he is one to watch for the future as he was involved in most of what Liverpool did well in the first half” while Callum Nicholas was also praised for his performance.

Overall Critchley was very happy with the start of the tour with the second goal added in the second half after Irish centre-back Conor Masterson – who impressed with some early U18 performances last year – found Jan Dhanda with a through ball and the 16-year-old finished well.

The development team will continue their trip – where they have had warm welcomes wherever they have gone – with another game next Saturday against Galway United, while Michael Beale’s U21s team will play games in Dublin on Friday and Sunday.

Critchley added: “We’ve only been back for a week so I was really pleased. The vast majority of our team were U17s, with five U16s and two U15s so it was a very young, inexperienced team. To play in that stadium in front of that many people and handle it so brilliantly was really pleasing.”

Recent signing from Arsenal, midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner, also got on for the last 10 minutes of the game to make his Liverpool debut and he is expected to settle into the U16s set-up at the Kirkby Academy this season.

He told his social media followers: "Nice to make my debut for Liverpool FC tonight for the u18s and win 2-0. Fans were great tonight, thanks for all the support.

Liverpool First Half: Owen Wheeler, Kane Lewis, Kris Owens, Michael Parker, Corey Whelan; Herbie Kane, Callum Nicholas, Ben Woodburn, Toni Gomes, Brad Garton, Bobby Adekanye.

Second Half : Caoimhin Kelleher, Liam Coyle, Conor Masterson, George Johnston, Josh Dobie, Trent Arnold, Okera Simmonds, Jack Watts, Jamie Ahearne, Rhian Brewster, Yan Dhanda.