Saudi millions and clubless - What happened to the Aston Villa kids who rocked Liverpool

Aston Villa will welcome West Ham United to Villa Park for the third round of the FA Cup next month - and it'll be four years on from when the Lions welcomed Liverpool to B6 for the same round of the competition. In 2021, Villa drew Liverpool, then the reigning champions of England, and headed into it in pretty good form under Dean Smith.

Villa had already dispatched Jurgen Klopp's Reds 7-2 at the beginning of the campaign as they got the season off to a flier with four straight wins, and after a dip in the autumn they'd picked up again over Christmas. They'd have fancied their chances, then, as they hosted Liverpool behind closed doors - only, it wouldn't be the first team lining up against Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and co.

A Covid outbreak in Bodymoor Heath prior to the tie ruled out the entire first team squad and coaching staff, who were forced into self-isolation where they'd have to watch the game from home. Instead, former defender and youth team coach Mark Delaney took charge for the night and fielded a team of young guns for a potentially once-in-a-career experience.

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While Villa's brave young prospects were defeated 4-1, they grasped their opportunity. It's fair to say that the fortunes of the group named in the side that night have been mixed, since the unique tie. What became of that squad?

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Akos Onodi

The Hungarian goalkeeper signed during the days of Steve Bruce but this, aside from EFL Trophy appearances, was the closest he got to the first team football environment at Villa. Onodi spent time on loan at Bromsgrove Sporting during his time at Villa and has since returned to Hungary, where he plays for second tier team Szeged.

Jake Walker

The defender was recalled from his loan spell with Alvechurch in order to play this game. It was, like a number of others, Walker's only first-team experience at Villa, who he left at the end of this same season. Joined Newtown in the Welsh Premier League and played regularly for a couple of years. Has a degree focusing on sport, fitness and coaching.

Dominic Revan

One of two brothers who progressed through the ranks at Villa, Dom Revan joined the club in 2008. He played centre half against Liverpool, given the unenviable task of coping with Salah and Mane, and later Roberto Firmino. Revan left Villa in 2022 and joined Barnet, but he has since moved again in the non-league to Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Mungo Bridge

Centre half Bridge signed his first professional contract with Villa in 2018 and was loaned out to French third tier outfit Annecy, following his debut in the FA Cup. His deal was due to expire in 2021 but he was offered the chance to remain for another year, prior to his eventual departure. Bridge has since had spells with non-league Macclesfield and Daventry Town, the most recent being last year, after failing to earn a contract while on trial at Bristol Rovers.

Callum Rowe

The left-back got the assist on the night, setting Louie Barry away to stun Liverpool and bring Villa level, even if only briefly. Rowe, like others, left Villa the same season and has since embarked on a non-league journey after a brief spell in the EFL with Exeter City. He's played for Yeovil, Hereford, Stourbridge and Rushall, among others, but is currently with Radcliffe and Ashton United on a dual registration.

Lamare Bogarde

The youngster is one of the few still on Villa's books. He has broken into the first-team sphere under Unai Emery, having been linked heavily with a move to Nottingham Forest in the summer which never materialised. Bogarde, who played in midfield this night, has proven to be versatile and has helped Emery fill the void at right-back at times this season. He has seven first-team appearances at the time of writing, benefitting from time spent with Bristol Rovers.

Mamadou Sylla

The midfielder was another who played against Liverpool in the FA Cup and then helped Villa beat their under 18 equivalents at Villa Park in the FA Youth Cup at the end of the season, although he headed to Spain that summer and signed for second tier side Almeria, but he didn't make a league appearance for their first team and left in 2023.

Arjan Raikhy

Wolverhampton-born Raikhy began his career at West Brom before joining Villa in his teenage years. He progressed through the ranks of Villa's academy before getting the nod in this game, but he never got closer to the first team starting XI and left to join Leicester City in 2023. He made his debut in the FA Cup win over Birmingham City last season and has three appearances to date.

Ben Chrisene

A versatile player who is carving out a promising career for himself after life at Villa. Chrisene had joined Villa from Exeter City as the club looked to attract some of the best young talent from the EFL to their own production line, but he left this past summer to join Championship outfit Norwich City. Chrisene scored in a 4-1 win over Watford and has made 13 appearances this season to date.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden

The right-back played on the wing against Liverpool and, like Chrisene is in the Championship - but like Bogarde, he remains on Villa's books. Kesler-Hayden has racked up a tonne of EFL experience since this Liverpool outing; he has spent time at Swindon, MK Dons, Huddersfield, Plymouth and now is playing every week at Preston. His previous deal was due to expire in 2026 but he agreed an extension this past summer.

Louie Barry

A big talking point in the EFL heading into the January transfer window. Barry, like Kesler-Hayden, has enjoyed a series of loan spells in recent years and has, at Stockport County, begun to find his feet in men's football and start scoring at an almost absurd rate. Barry has 15 goals in 20 appearances this season, is League One top scorer and is expected to reallocated to a Championship team in January.

Brad Young

Had loan spells with Carlisle and Ayr before leaving Villa and joining The New Saints in 2023. He fired 32 goals in 42 appearances in a single season and fired TNS to Europe, but he remarkably left this past summer having earned himself a move to the Saudi Pro League. Now plays with the likes of Jean Michael Seri, Kurt Zouma, Johan Berg Gudmundsson and Cristian Tello.

Sil Swinkels

Signed for Villa from Vitesse in 2020 and was chucked in for his debut unexpectedly here. There remains high hopes for Swinkels, who has had to overcome an ACL injury in his time at Villa. Has been involved in many match-day squads for Emery this season and played 90 minutes at Wycombe in the EFL Cup. Signed a contract extension last month.

Teddy Rowe

One of the substitutes on the night, Rowe was fast-tracked through the Villa age groups and made his debut when coming off the bench. Represented Villa at the Hong Kong Sevens tournament last year and then joined Gloucester City on loan. Left Villa in the summer and joined Leamington born midfielder joined his hometown club.

Hayden Lindley

Lindley hails from Yorkshire and came through the ranks at Blackburn and Manchester City before joining Villa in 2019. After this experience, he replaced Frederic Guilbert in the 6-0 EFL Cup win over Barrow in August 2021 and then headed out on loan to Newport. After a spell with non-league Darlington, he signed for FC United of Manchester in the summer - the club set up by supporters who opposed the Glazer takeover - and he has played regularly.

Harrison Sonha

The midfielder was actually on trial at Sunderland before the end of the 2020-21 season, and he eventually headed to Wearside when he was released. Sonha never made an appearance for the Mackems and left in 2023. After a year out of football, he joined Cheltenham Town after a successful trial and has played regularly in League Two this season.

The Liverpool squad on the night: Caoimhin Kelleher, Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, Fabinho, James Milner, Jordan Henderson (Thiago Alcantara), Curtis Jones (Roberto Firmino), Georginio Wijnaldum, Takumi Minamino (Xherdan Shaqiri), Mohamed Salah (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain), Sadio Mane (Divock Origi)

Substitutes not used: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Nat Phillips