With the 2024/25 marketing campaign now nicely underway, a number of thrilling younger abilities are rising as ones to look at inside Liverpool’s flourishing academy setup.
Two months into the season and there are vastly constructive indicators all through the membership as a brand new regime takes over on the AXA Coaching Centre.
Whereas there have been huge modifications in personnel within the first crew with the appointment of Arne Slot and his backroom, a lot has stayed the identical off the pitch with regards to the U21s and U18s.
So which gamers are making their mark in Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s youth ranks to date?
Listed below are 10 children you ought to be keeping track of from Liverpool’s academy.
Kornel Misciur – Goalkeeper
Age: 17
Nationality: English/Polish
Although he has shared duties with Harvey Davies, Misciur has benefited from an premature pink card for his older teammate to determine himself as No. 1 for the U21s.
He has carried out so regardless of solely turning 17 earlier this 12 months, along with his stature and stage of efficiency belying his younger years.
An excellent shot-stopper, Misciur can also be composed with the ball at his toes and is creating a robust command of his space, with it no shock that he’s already being built-in as a part of first-team coaching.
Carter Pinnington – Centre-back
Age: 17
Nationality: English
The primary half of the season has seen an skilled core type inside Lewtas’ U21s, however teenage defender Pinnington is likely one of the youngest within the group and regarded one of the high-potential.
Pinnington is a tall, sturdy centre-back who has additionally been deployed at left-back at levels this season, with coaches cherishing his versatility.
From the Wirral, he really made his debut for the U21s as a 15-year-old again in 2022/23, however he’s now being relied upon as a bona fide mainstay within the group.
Ranel Younger – Striker
Age: 18
Nationality: English
Younger has been unlucky with accidents in latest seasons, however seems to be to be capitalising on the absence Jayden Danns to date this time period as he takes up a brand new position up entrance.
Although a pure winger, the 18-year-old has impressed in a central place for the U21s, gaining extra of an understanding of the sorts of runs and physicality required in main the road.
He scored a sensational solo objective in a 3-2 win over Sunderland in September and has proven promise within the UEFA Youth League towards the likes of AC Milan and Bologna too.
DJ Esdaille – Proper-back
Age: 16
Nationality: English
One of many youngest gamers on this checklist, Scouser and first-year scholar Esdaille is trying to emulate Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s rise.
There are actually similarities in the best way they play at right-back, not least within the duty Esdaille is already taking over in an often-inverted position for the U18s.
Regardless of not turning 17 till December, the teenager greater than holds his personal in bodily battles and serves to be one of the thrilling abilities in Bridge-Wilkinson’s group.
Alvin Ayman – Central midfielder
Age: 17
Nationality: Egyptian
Summer time signing Ayman (pictured left) arrived from Wolves in the direction of the tip of the summer season after a protracted wait to ratify a switch value round £1.5 million.
Liverpool’s outlay might have elevated expectations, nevertheless it has been a quiet begin to life on the membership to date, with warning taken as {the teenager} in eased into motion.
However there have been promising indicators already, and Ayman’s capacity to dominate as a box-to-box midfielder ought to start to indicate because the marketing campaign progresses.
Ollie O’Connor – Attacking midfielder
Age: 16
Nationality: English
Earlier than the season started, few could have highlighted O’Connor as one of many Liverpool children to look at, however the Scouser has already stood out among the many U18s’ high performers.
He has carried out so in quite a lot of positions, together with out vast, however he seems to be most snug in his extra pure position as a central midfielder.
There’s a poise to his sport that’s usually missing with gamers of his age, and Bridge-Wilkinson seems to be set to rely on him as a staple of his beginning lineup – rightly so.
Joe Bradshaw – Winger
Age: 16
Nationality: English
There could also be extra concentrate on newer arrivals in Liverpool’s youth ranks in these early months of the season, however Bradshaw’s continued progress shouldn’t be ignored.
Signed from Accrington Stanley in 2021, he’s now an everyday starter on both flank for the U18s, whereas he may also be utilised extra centrally.
Alongside along with his nimble toes and eye for a cross, Bradshaw seems to be to be honing his decision-making in entrance of objective – although a expensive penalty miss in September’s 3-2 loss to Newcastle, when he had pulled rank over common taker Josh Sonni-Lambie, exhibits room to develop.
Rio Ngumoha – Winger
Age: 16
Nationality: English
There was a palpable pleasure about Ngumoha since his arrival from Chelsea over the summer season, although expectations across the younger winger ought to be dampened.
At this stage, the 16-year-old is understandably uncooked, along with his choice to run at defenders seeing him fail to notice a extra helpful cross on various events.
However there may be additionally a lot to get pleasure from about Ngumoha’s sport, and with coaches taking a eager concentrate on his improvement – coaching with the U21s every day – there are hopes he can blossom when he settles.
Kieran Morrison – Attacking midfielder
Age: 17
Nationality: Northern Irish
It’s laborious to imagine that Morrison remains to be solely 17, having lengthy been earmarked as one of many stars of the academy.
Coaches inside the youth setup have opted for a gentle method when monitoring his progress, and it’s only now – two seasons after he first broke by way of with the U18s – that he’s thought-about an everyday for the U21s.
He has taken on that improve in duty admirably, and developing towards greater, extra skilled defenders has required him to range his assaults extra, which is to date paying off.
Amara Nallo – Centre-back
Age: 17
Nationality: English
Already on the first-team radar, Nallo has been put in as the principle centre-back for Liverpool U21s this season because the likes of Pinnington and Wellity Fortunate rotate round him.
There was an emphasis on the 17-year-old to guide the crew from the center of defence, together with carrying the captain’s armband within the U19s’ 2-1 win over Bologna within the UEFA Youth League.
Nallo scored the winner that afternoon, with the addition of targets to his sport complementing an achieved skillset as a fast, sturdy and technically gifted centre-half.
