Nigeria-eligible youngster Olufunwa plays his first competitive game for Liverpool

ANGLO-Nigerian central defender Oludare Olufunwa played his first competitive game for Liverpool last night featuring for the Reds in the Papa John's Trophy clash against Salford City at The Peninsula Stadium.

A knockout tournament, the English Football League (EFL) Trophy known as the Papa John's Trophy, is an annual competition open to the 48 clubs in League One and League Two, the third and fourth tiers of English football. Since the 2016/17 season, it has also featured 16 under-21 sides from Premier League and EFL Championship clubs.

Yesterday, Olufunwa, 21, who recently signed from Southampton, made his debut in a game which Liverpool lost 1-2. Before last night, Olufunwa was a non-playing substitute in Liverpool's two Papa John's Trophy matches against Brighton & Hove and Tottenham Hotspur before the trip to Greater Manchester to take on the League Two club Salford City.

Wearing jersey number 76, Olufunwa was in action for the entire duration of the game. He has played in the Papa John's Trophy before, making two appearances during his time with Southampton.

Olufunwa was released at the end of the 2021/22 season by Southampton after more than a decade at the club, having worked his way up through the ranks. He never made an official first team start for Southampton but is hoping that his career will now take off at Liverpool.