The Reds academy ace was captain as the Anfield side was in EFL Trophy action in midweek.
Liverpool youth coach Neil Critchley has spoken highly of midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner, who was named captain for the EFL Trophy game against Fleetwood Town on Wednesday night, as reported by the Reds official website.
While most eyes were on the first team’s 2-0 win over MK Dons in the League Cup, with Jurgen Klopp selecting the likes of Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Ki-Jana Hoever in the team, the Under-21s were giving the League One side a tough time in Lancashire.
The Reds side, leaning heavily on the Under-18s squad, fought out a creditable 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium on Wednesday in their second EFL Trophy group game before going down 4-3 on penalties to miss out on a bonus point.
“I’ve been super impressed with Elijah since he has come back from pre-season,” Critchley is quoted by the Liverpool website as saying of the 18-year-old boyhood Reds fan. “He worked very hard in the summer on his physical attributes and I think he has had a really good start to the season for us.
“I thought it was the right moment for him to step up and take the captaincy. His social side as well, with the way he is interacting with the players and staff this season, he has matured as a person.”
Dixon-Bonner is described by the Liverpool website as a “very creative player”, who arrived at the academy from Arsenal in 2015, signed his first professional contract with the club in February 2018, and was part of the victorious FA Youth Cup squad the following season, scoring a penalty during the shootout victory over Manchester City in the final.
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