Crystal Palace Under-18s return to Premier League Cup action on Saturday when Leeds United visit the Academy for an 11:00 BST kick-off. Javier Alonso’s side need a positive result to keep their defence of the trophy alive after beginning Group C with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Palace won the competition for the first time last season, overcoming Manchester United on penalties in the final at Selhurst Park. With only the winner of each four-team group advancing to the quarter-finals, the Young Eagles face Leeds before concluding their group campaign away to Aston Villa. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa complete the section.
Alonso and his players used the three-week international period to work on their approach and continue building the squad. First-year scholars Lucca Benetton and Alfie Mulvenna were away with England and Northern Ireland Under-17s respectively, while several Under-16 players joined the group during the break. Alonso said the time on the training pitch had allowed the staff to introduce ideas and bring renewed energy to the team.
The head coach has also been encouraged by Palace’s response in their final match before the break. The Young Eagles recovered from a 3-0 half-time deficit to draw 3-3 with Fulham, with Jamar Lee, Dotun Lamidi and Donte Martin scoring in the second half. Alonso felt the comeback reflected improvements in both the team’s tactics and mentality.
Leeds arrive after beating Leicester City 3-1, with Logan White scoring twice, and currently sit 10th in the U18 Premier League North after five matches. Alonso has analysed the visitors and highlighted their quality in possession, but believes Palace are progressing as a team ahead of the contest.
Developing players remains central to Alonso’s work, alongside competing for results. Ten Under-16 players have already made their Under-18 debuts this season, while Ajean-Ray Greaves, Raihaan Anderson and 15-year-old Nat Kalembo have featured competitively for the Under-21s. Saturday’s match will be shown live on Palace TV+, with coverage starting at 10:45 BST, while supporters can also follow updates through the club’s Academy X account and official app.
