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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

Liverpool youngster helps fire his loan team to big Carabao Cup upset

Liverpool youngster James Balagizi helped Crawley Town to a 2-0 victory over Premier League side Fulham to help them reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The 18-year-old Academy star joined the League Two outfit on a season-long loan earlier this summer and has already made quite the impact at his new club. He's so far made six appearances in all competitions and scored his first two goals for them in one game, with a brace against Northampton Town in a 3-2 defeat last Tuesday.

Now, he's helped them progress to the next round of the competition as he scored Crawley's second goal of the night against Marco Silva's side.

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Balagizi signed a new contract with Liverpool before completing the move earlier in the window. He initially made the switch to Merseyside at under-11 level, joining from rivals Manchester City and he's seen a quick rise through the age groups.

He made 14 Premier League 2 appearances last season and scored two goals, although he's yet to make a first team appearance, having only made the bench on a handful of occasions in the early stages of the Carabao and FA Cup.

Balagizi currently represents England at under-19 level, but he's previously worked with Crawley boss Kevin Betsy in the Three Lions' youth set-up. “We are really thankful to Liverpool for allowing James to join us on loan," Betsy told Crawley's official website after the loan move was confirmed.

"He is an extremely talented young man who I have known for a very long time. He is highly thought of at Liverpool, so for them to send him to us and trust us with a real asset of theirs speaks volumes for the football club.

"James can be a box-to-box to midfielder with great athleticism and speed. He can also play a real defensive role at times, as he is really astute in his positioning. A real class act who I believe will show his quality once he gets on the pitch for us.

"This really is a fantastic signing for us as he already has a great pedigree and has played for his national side at such a young age.”

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