Spanish-born Nigerian winger fires hat-trick for Liverpool youth team 

Spanish-born Nigerian winger Elijah Gift was the standout performer as Liverpool U18s beat Leicester City 6-1 in a friendly at the Academy on Saturday afternoon.

Gift, who started the 2022-2023 season as a first year scholar, netted a hat-trick for the Reds while Ranel Young with a brace and Keyrol Figueroa were the other scorers for the Anfield club.

The Spanish-Nigerian starlet was joined in the starting lineup by another Golden Eaglets-eligible player Fola Onanuga. 

Gift was nominated for Liverpool's Goal of the Month for April 2023 along with Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Joel Matip, Harvey Blair and Lewis Koumas. 

The 16-year-old joined the Liverpool academy as an U12 player from Huddersfield Town, rising through the ranks before making his debut for the U18s against Stoke City in October 2022.

Overall, Gift bagged four goals for Liverpool's youth teams this season including three in the U18 Premier League. 

He made his UEFA Youth League debut against Porto on March 1, 2023.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : liverpoolfc.com

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