Football News: Liverpool FC U21 Talent Review

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Our academy has been very poorly utilised in the last 20 years. Since we had Owen, Gerrard and Carragher break through, we've produced two players of starting XI quality and that is Trent Alexander-Arnold and Raheem Sterling. Although Sterling signed at 15 years old from Queens Park Rangers and also didn't stay very long!

Two players in two decades has to be improved upon. In truth it's not been good enough with regards to either players we've signed as teenagers or those we've nutured from schoolchildren.

We have had a handful threaten to break through such as Martin Kelly, Jon Flanagan, Suso, Andre Wisdom, Ben Woodburn and Jerome Sinclair. Most faded out of the picture due to injuries or just failing to maintain their standards at senior level.

With out any further waffling, I'll get straight into my assessment of all the U21 players currently at Liverpool's disposal, who are often touted as close to the first team.

Goalkeepers:

First up is Harvey Davies. He joined the club at 9 years old and impressed a lot coming up through the academy. He certainly caught the eye of Klopp and has featured on the bench for the first team on several occasions. For me he needs a loan to prove himself in mens football. He has an outside chance of replacing Caoimhin Kelleher or Adrian San Miguel though, if either were to leave in the summer. Kelleher might feel he can be a starter elsewhere and Adrian is out of contract.

The only other keeper I see having a realistic chance any time soon is Marcelo Pitaluga. Signed at 17 from Fluminense, the Brazilian came with a huge reputation as one of the best young keepers in the world. He's currently on loan at Macclesfield and getting regular game time so hopefully he can come back to the club all the better for it. I'd say he has the best chance of replacing Kelleher or Adrian in the first team squad. He has more senior experience than any other young keeper at the club thanks to his loan. He's miles off Alisson Becker still though.

Right backs:

The obvious one is Calvin Ramsay. The young Scotsman signed for approximately £4million from Aberdeen, and big things were expected from him. He won young player of the season last year and is seen as a top talent up in Scotland. Sadly he has yet to show that in England. In pre-season it emerged he had an injury issue that I'd assume was missed in the medical and it was reported from within the club that this injury would need to be managed. Rather frustrating as it's left Trent with no competition other than a 36 year old James Milner. I like the look of Ramsay but thus far all we've been able to see are highlights from his Aberdeen days, and a couple of cameos. I'll be blunt, I don't think he has a long shelf life at Liverpool if he can't even stay fit.

Next up is Connor Bradley. Now this is a talented player. Bradley joined the club at around 16 years old, coming over from Northern Ireland. For me he's in the top 5 players in our academy. He was nominated for Premier League 2 player of the season last year. Such was his success at youth level that he made 5 appearances for the senior team and earned himself a loan move to Bolton Wanderers for the 22/23 season. At Bolton he has thrived playing as a right wing back and he currently has 6 goals and 5 assists in 31 appearances. In fact he's been directly involved in over a quarter of Bolton's League 1 goals this season. He might actually end up being good enough to put genuine pressure on Trent but that will be his biggest hurdle, as Trent is a very young man himself. Bradley needs to stay injury free, keep his feet on the ground, and of course prove himself at the highest level if he is to have any chance.

Isaac Mabaya is the last right back on my list. He's a versatile young player who can also play midfield. Some of you may have caught him in pre-season. He's been with the club since 6 years old and he seems a genuinely nice kid. I like him from the little I've seen but i just think the two young right backs ahead of him are significantly better players.

Centre backs:

First up is Sepp van den Berg. The young Dutchman signed at 17 years from PC Zwolle having been coached there by Jaap Stam. Sepp actually played right back on loan at Preston for a couple of seasons, before this year securing a loan move to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. He began the season starting at centre back alongside former Southampton player Maya Yoshida and things were going well. Unfortunately for him he suffered a nasty ankle ligament tear that has kept him out for a few months now. He is nearing a return but from my personal experience, once you tear ankle ligaments they are never the same. Either way I'm not sure if Jurgen Klopp is convinced by him as a player anyway as he's barely had a chance even in friendlies. He was looking good pre-injury though so one to watch if he can bounce back quickly.

Jarell Quansah is the best centre back prospect at the club in my opinion. He is quick, good on the ball, strong in the air and also a good leader having worn the armband at multiple youth levels. He's been at Liverpool since he was 6 years old, and he was recently a key part of the U19's England side that won the European Championship in the summer of 2022. He actually scored the winner in the semi-final and assisted the equaliser in the final, but more impressively was named in the team of the tournament. He's a very classy player and by all acounts is a very classy young man. He has made the bench a few times and I for one hope he is given his chance soon.

It's easy to forget that Rhys Williams is still a Liverpool player. He joined the club at 10 years old and would later win the FA Youth Cup. After forming a decent partnership with Nathaniel Phillips, he helped us secure Champions League Qualification in that now infamous season where it seemed playing centre back for Liverpool should've come with a health warning. He started this season on loan at Swansea but it didn't go well at all, so he later switched to Blackpool. He's certainly getting more gametime there but he looks very limited as a player to me. Lacking in both pace and passing range, i don't see him making it at Liverpool long term.

Lastly is Billy Koumetio. He came to club from France at just 16 years old which is very commendable. Similar to Williams, he is slow but from what I've seen he's significantly better on the ball. In fact he scored from inside his own half this week against PSG's academy. He did start this season on loan in Austria but saw it terminated having failed to get much gametime. Klopp really likes him, but i think his lack of pace will be his undoing.

Left backs:

Luke Chambers is the standout in this position for me. He joined the club at 6 years old and has become a brilliant left back both offensively a defensively. Although Klopp recently used him as a centre back in a friendly, and claimed he had everything to be a top centre back "apart from a body". I think he's a brilliant player but there is that concern already from Klopp about his physicality. As a left back, he will probably get a chance in the first team at some point though. The problem is Liverpool have two very good senior left backs which will make it a challenge despite Klopp clearly liking him. He takes a very good penalty as a side note.

The only other notable inclusion in this position is Owen Beck. The young Welshman is actually the great-nephew of Ian Rush (no pressure lad). He came to the club from Stoke City as a 13 year old and was a big hit at youth level. He's already made a couple of appearances for the senior side but he struggled badly. He's currently on loan at Bolton but unlike Bradley he's really struggling to even get a game, let alone influence one. I think he'll end up moving on eventually.

Centre midfielders:

There is only one place to start and that is with Stefan Bajcetic. Signed from Celta Vigo  at 16 years old, the young Spanish youth international has just blitzed through every level of youth football in a seriously rapid rise to the senior team. For me, the best young player at the club. He's just an absolute Rolls Royce of a player. Whether he's at centre back, defensive midfield, or playing box to box he just always looks majestic. Until it comes to winning the ball back that is, when he turns into an animal, snapping into tackles. There's not much to say about him that anybody else couldn't say because he's shown what he's all about this season in the senior team. Still only 18, this is a very special player we have here. I'd say he's probably the reason, if Klopp decides not to sign a midfielder this month.

Curtis Jones; what a head scratcher. He joined the club at 9 years old and is still only 21 years old, but I just don't know what to make of him. I love his attitude on the pitch. He sprints around giving everything for the team, but it always seems kind of aimless. Pressing when he should stand off, chasing down wingers and leaving gaps the centre etc. My problem with him is mainly that he's not a natural centre midfielder so he tries too hard to impress. He played left wing for the academy and he was very good there. I watched him destroy Napoli's U19's once, scoring a hattrick. On top of this positional uncertainty? Injuries. Jones is absolutely plagued by them, but they've all been unfortunate. From freak eye injuries to impact fractures. If he can stay fit, he has a place in the squad, but it seems to be a massive 'if'. Klopp gives players every chance though so he won't be pushed out and as a huge Liverpool fan, I doubt he'll push to leave either. He's here for the forseeable future but only time will tell of he can kick on from being just an average squad player.

Next up, Harvey Elliott. He joined the club at 16 years old from Fulham and has since had a good loan move at Blackburn Rovers where he played on the right wing and racked up goals and assists for fun. For me he's not ready to play centre midfield at Premier League level though. He reminds me of a young Juan Mata. Technically superb but slightly too slow for the wing and a little weak for midfield. He is also a huge Liverpool fan as well though and Klopp absolutely loves him in midfield regardless of what I think, so it's unlikely he's going anywhere. He has goals and assists in his locker, but he needs to be stronger defensively and more intelligent with his decision making. It's easy to forget he's only 19 though. His future is bright and his struggles this season are not entirely his fault. The anger should really be directed at the senior players he is deputising for because they can't stay fit.

Next here we have Bobby Clark. This is a really talented kid but the problem will be getting chances to show it. There are several young players ahead of him but he does keep getting himself on the bench so he's certainly impressing Klopp. Newcastle really didn't want to lose him when we poached him at 16 years old. Blessed with vision and dribbling skills beyond his years, he could be a big player for us in 3 or 4 years when he hits his early twenties. One to watch in a few years time i think. He is the youngest on my list of midfielders so he has time on his side.

Tyler Morton has just signed a new long term deal and I think he's got a good chance of being a long term squad player at the club if he would be happy with such a role. He's been with Liverpool since he was 7 years old. As a player he is unspectacular, but solid with and without the ball. I really like his attitude as well. He's actually having a really good loan spell at Blackburn currently, playing regularly and helping them as they push for promotion. He has serious competition as a young midfielder at Liverpool though and he may be overlooked as a result. Sometimes it's these young Jordan Henderson types who end up being the best though, as they have to work harder than everyone else.

The penultimate midfielder on the list is James Balagizi. He's a very gifted attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. He's particulatly strong at running with the ball and commiting defenders. He joined the club at 11 years old and is currently on loan at Crawley town. He's struggled a bit with injury but when fit he has impressed. He scored a brace in one of the earlier cup rounds to endear himself to the fans. I think he'll have a good career in the football league, but in my opinion he's not at Liverpool level.

Lastly for midfielders, is Leighton Clarkson. He joined the academy at 6 years old and played mainly as a creative centre midfielder. He has struggled in the mens game due to being very weak physically though. He had a failed loan at Blackburn where he became a bit of a scapegoat for some poor results. This season he has gone up to Scotland to play for Aberdeen and in a stroke of genius, their manager put him on the left wing. He operates out there very much like Phillipe Coutinho used to for Liverpool. Cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, every goal he's scored this season has been an absolute screamer. He currently has 5 goals in 19 appearances. I think he has found his position, but also his level. I don't see him forging out a career at Liverpool. He's 21 years old and there are players far younger ahead of him already. I wish him all the best in his next step though.

Right wingers:

I'll start with Melkamu Frauendorf. The Ethiopian born German youth international, was signed from Hoffenheim at 16 years old. He can play anywhere across the attack but shines most on the right wing. He's a brilliant footballer but I think he lacks scintillating pace and ruthlessness in front of goal. Liverpool have some serious talent in the forward areas and for that reason alone i don't see Frauendorf making it at Liverpool. As well as Mohamed Salah, there are also multiple other young wingers already ahead of him.

One of those is Kaide Gordon. Gordon was signed from Derby County at 16 years old. A left footed right winger with a lot of pace and an eye for goal, it seemed like only a matter of time before he got his chance. When he did, he scored a very composed goal in the Cup. Since then though, injury has seriously hampered his development to the point he's rarely been seen at any level for around a year. Hopefully he can bounce back but it is a concern. I fear he might be another Woodburn who scores a goal to become one of our youngest ever goalscorers and then never kicks on.

Lastly, it has to be Ben Doak. Signed from Celtic at 16 years old, this young Scottish star could save us millions. He could be the long term successor to Salah's throne but he has to stay grounded. At just 17 he has a long way to go but I'd be staggered if he didn't make it at least as a squad player for us. He is the best forward I've seen in the academy since Sterling. With pace that makes anyone else on this list look slow, aggression that defies his tender age, and the self-belief that he can beat anyone, there is no telling how good he could be. He looks like he just loves playing football. I'm extremely excited to see where he'll be in 2 or 3 years time. He has to turn this potential into a reality though which is easier said than done.

Strikers:

Oakley Cannonier is probably most well known for being the ball boy that helped create the "corner taken quickly" moment. However he's actually got plenty of ability himself and he'll be hoping that his ball boy heroics are a mere footnote in his career by the end of it. He joined Liverpool at 12 years old and is a goal machine at youth level, but he's still a long way off the senior team. I really struggle to see him making it if I'm brutally honest. He reminds me of Adam Morgan. He's got the eye for goal but i don't know if he will ever have the pace or strength to be a modern centre forward; a role where you are expected to lead the line alone in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 for most teams. He's got the technical qualities though, so I wouldn't rule him out entirely if he can develop physically.

Next is Max Woltman who joined the club at 7 years old. He is a really hard worker but he lacks any real quality in my opinion. He doesn't even score enough at youth level. I just don't see him ever making an impact in the Liverpool senior side. He's on loan at Doncaster Rovers but he's been limited to cameos off the bench and has not scored a single goal. There's almost zero chance he makes it at Liverpool in my opinion but I hope he can have a good career in the football league.

Layton Stewart is the last striker on my list. Stewart joined the academy at 7 years old and he developed into a deadly marksman. He was well on track to break into the first team until he suffered a really bad knee injury. It took him out of action for about a year but he has come back looking fit and sharp. The goals aren't flowing at the same rate just yet but if he can rediscover his form, I think he's the best striker in the academy. It's just that knee injury that gives me doubts. He will be given time as he only turned 20 at the start of this season. He's a scorer of all types of goals so it would be gutting if that injury defines his whole career.

Left wingers:

To be honest there is only one player in this position i consider anywhere near good enough and that is of course, Fabio Carvalho. He joined from Fulham at 19 years old last summer and he's already scored a few goals for the first team despite limited gametime. He's a good player who can go past a man with a drop of the shoulder or just play an early incisive pass. I'm not sure he suits Liverpool's system though. I'm not even sure he's considered a left winger by Klopp. For me that's where he's looked best, and where he's scored all his goals. It's hard to see a pathway for him though. Luis Diaz getting injured should've given him the platform to kick on, and yet he barely played and was ultimately replaced by Cody Gakpo who isn't exactly old. I don't know where Carvalho fits in but he is a talented player who is already on the fringes so he has plenty of time to turn things around.

Conclusion:

We all know the sad truth is that many talented young players just don't make the grade. We're blessed to have so much talent currently and that is testament to the superb work being done at Kirkby. In particular by Barry Lewtas, who just seems to be able to develop and bring on any player he is given.

In summary I think the players most likely to find long term success at Liverpool as key players are Bajcetic and Doak. Possibly Pitaluga and Clark thinking further ahead. They are an extremely talented crop, but It's very hard to predict these things. What I will say is theres another 6-8 players on this list who could make it here in the long term with a bit of luck on their side, albeit more likely as squad players.

We've invested a significant amount of money in signing the best young talent, and moving the the first team into the same training ground to help make that step into senior football a little bit easier. The future is bright regardless because even those who don't make it long term will probably move on for a tidy profit.

Written by Adam Jones January 13 2023 18:23:20