Liverpool's U19s claimed a thrilling victory over Fenerbahce in the Youth League this week, although Rob Page's side was hit with issues over one of its star players before kick-off

Liverpool certainly had an eventful trip to Turkey in midweek, with both the senior side and academy stars involved in enthralling encounters against Fenerbahce.

While the result didn’t go in favor of Andoni Iraola’s side in the Champions League, with the Reds falling to their first defeat in this season’s league phase, the club’s U19s continued their unbeaten start to their European campaign thanks to an eight-goal thriller.

Will Wright grabbed all the headlines once again as the young striker scored his second Youth League hat-trick this season to guide his side to a 5-3 victory in Istanbul, and leave Rob Page’s side in a healthy position to reach the knockout stages.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Liverpool youngsters though, and they were hit with issues before a ball had even been kicked on Wednesday.

Mor Talla Ndiaye, who had started all three of the U19s’ previous Youth League games this season, had to be left behind due to visa issues which prevented him from playing in Turkiye.

The 18-year-old, who completed his move to Liverpool from Senegalese side Amitie in January, is not expected to face the same problem when the club’s youngsters travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge later this month (November 25).

It’s not the first time Liverpool has faced visa issues with one of its young players of course, with Ifeanyi Ndukwe having been prevented from playing for the club this season after being unable to earn a work permit.

Ndiaye’s arrival in January actually played a part in Ndukwe being forced to head out on loan during the summer. The Senegalese youngster had already taken the club’s Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) slot, which Ndukwe would have qualified for and allowed him to play for Liverpool this season.

Having headed out on a temporary move to Spanish side Levante, Ndukwe is now eligible for a work permit, with the Reds facing a decision over whether to recall him in January.

In Ndiaye’s absence on Wednesday, the U19s picked up their second Youth League victory this season in what was a chaotic game, with Liverpool leading 4-2 at half-time before eventually coming out 5-3 victors, with the hosts reduced to ten men late on.

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Hat-trick hero Wright said after the game: “Sometimes when you get an early lead, you do tend to relax.

“But that’s the message that we have to keep saying to each other throughout the team: that we can’t become relaxed in those games, we’ve got to be ruthless.

“It’s one of Rob [Page]’s biggest things, being ruthless throughout the game, not only at the top of the pitch but at the back as well.

“I think that’s just what we’ve got to keep telling each other, keep pushing each other and hopefully the results keep coming as they are.”