Jayden Danns has not featured for Liverpool at senior level for Liverpool for more than a year, but U21s boss Rob Page has offered an update on the academy striker

Liverpool striker Jayden Danns is now "ready to go" after a frustrating period with injuries. The Reds forward has not played for the first team since September 2025, but has been named on the bench in each of the Champions League fixtures so far this term.

"His fitness is good," U21s head coach Rob Page told reporters after Liverpool U19s' draw with Villarreal in the UEFA Youth League.

"It was always part of the plan that some games he will play and others he won't. Sometimes he will play 45. It depends on what his training load has been throughout the week.

"If he has done enough work during the week, it might just be that he is getting game time. It's not about 90 minutes — it's about game time to get his sharpness so that he is ready when he is called on.

"He's ready to go. It's just like with any of these top athletes, you have to manage the load throughout the week and be sensible about it."

Page lined up with Finn Inglethorpe and Will Wright as a front two against Villarreal in the Youth League, but the Reds were unable to score, collecting another point in a goalless draw.

"It's a nice problem to have," Page explained. "I like two center forwards up top. We started today in a diamond because we had Finn and Will as two center forwards.

"With the U21s as well, me and Jay (Spearing) have had a conversation about it. I think we're a better team when we play two up top — we are more aggressive with the press and we get pressure higher up the pitch.

"The way the first team play, the way the gaffer plays, we want to try to mirror that as much as we can.

"We talk about the press being aggressive, and I think in transition, we have more options — we have talented players behind the front two and then Will in the form he is in, it is just to have quality in the top line to feed them and know that we are going to get chances."

Despite being well on top in the second half, Liverpool could not find a breakthrough, with the young Reds left frustrated.

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"Second half, it was complete domination by us, and we're so disappointed that we haven't won the game," Page said.

"We created 44 entries into the box in the final third. I just said to the boys, we created enough chances to win three games of football, let alone one.

"At this level, they are still progressing and it is about creating that ruthless mentality that when you get your action, you finish it. Our decision-making at times needs to improve. There's lots of positives, but there is frustration that we haven't won the game.

"There was some great balls into the box and it's just some final details at the end. One just needed a little toe on in and it would have gone in, so it's a bit of luck as well — if it bounces right for us.

"But the minute we're not creating chances, I'll be worried. Thirty-plus shots, I think it was — a crazy number to not score. Our xG must have been through the roof."