With the 2024/25 marketing campaign now properly underway, a bunch 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 massively optimistic indicators all through the membership as a brand new regime takes over on the AXA Coaching Centre.
Whereas there have been huge adjustments in personnel within the first group with the appointment of Arne Slot and his backroom, a lot has stayed the identical off the pitch in the case of 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: 17Nationality: English/Polish
Although he has shared duties with Harvey Davies, Misciur has benefited from an premature crimson card for his older teammate to ascertain himself as No. 1 for the U21s.
He has executed so regardless of solely turning 17 earlier this yr, along with his stature and stage of efficiency belying his younger years.
An impressive 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: 17Nationality: English
The primary half of the season has seen an skilled core type inside Lewtas’ U21s, however teenage defender Pinnington is without doubt one of the youngest within the group and regarded one of the crucial 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: 18Nationality: English
Younger has been unlucky with accidents in current seasons, however appears 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 aim 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: 16Nationality: English
One of many youngest gamers on this listing, Scouser and first-year scholar Esdaille is seeking to emulate Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s rise.
There are actually similarities in the way in which 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 teen greater than holds his personal in bodily battles and serves to be one of the crucial thrilling abilities in Bridge-Wilkinson’s group.
Alvin Ayman – Central midfielder
Age: 17Nationality: Egyptian
Summer season signing Ayman (pictured left) arrived from Wolves in direction of the tip of the summer time after a protracted wait to ratify a switch value round £1.5 million.
Liverpool’s outlay could have elevated expectations, however 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 potential to dominate as a box-to-box midfielder ought to start to indicate because the marketing campaign progresses.
Ollie O’Connor – Attacking midfielder
Age: 16Nationality: English
Earlier than the season started, few may have highlighted O’Connor as one of many Liverpool children to look at, however the Scouser has already stood out among the many U18s’ prime performers.
He has executed so in a wide range of positions, together with out broad, however he appears most comfy in his extra pure position as a central midfielder.
There’s a poise to his recreation that’s typically missing with gamers of his age, and Bridge-Wilkinson appears set to rely on him as a staple of his beginning lineup – rightly so.
Joe Bradshaw – Winger
Age: 16Nationality: English
There could also be extra deal with 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 a daily starter on both flank for the U18s, whereas he will also be utilised extra centrally.
Alongside along with his nimble toes and eye for a cross, Bradshaw appears to be honing his decision-making in entrance of aim – although a pricey penalty miss in September’s 3-2 loss to Newcastle, when he had pulled rank over common taker Josh Sonni-Lambie, reveals room to develop.
Rio Ngumoha – Winger
Age: 16Nationality: English
There was a palpable pleasure about Ngumoha since his arrival from Chelsea over the summer time, although expectations across the younger winger needs to be dampened.
At this stage, the 16-year-old is understandably uncooked, along with his choice to run at defenders seeing him miss out on a extra helpful cross on a lot of events.
However there may be additionally a lot to take pleasure in about Ngumoha’s recreation, and with coaches taking a eager deal with his improvement – coaching with the U21s each day – there are hopes he can blossom when he settles.
Kieran Morrison – Attacking midfielder
Age: 17Nationality: Northern Irish
It’s exhausting to consider 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 gradual method when monitoring his progress, and it is just now – two seasons after he first broke by way of with the U18s – that he’s thought of a daily for the U21s.
He has taken on that enhance in duty admirably, and arising towards larger, extra skilled defenders has required him to fluctuate his assaults extra, which is to date paying off.
Amara Nallo – Centre-back
Age: 17Nationality: English
Already on the first-team radar, Nallo has been put in as the primary 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 group from the guts 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 recreation complementing an completed skillset as a fast, sturdy and technically gifted centre-half.
