Jurgen Klopp left behind an enviable technology of academy expertise at Liverpool, however the place will these excellent kids match into Arne Slot‘s system?
‘Should you’re ok, you’re sufficiently old’ was the mantra for Klopp’s Liverpool.
A technology of expertise broke into the primary group in 2023/24, together with a dramatic Carabao Cup remaining win that ended with six academy gamers on the pitch.
An Academy stuffed with character ?? pic.twitter.com/Hfd8a7hyxs
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 25, 2024
Now Slot is the person to impress. Having given 12,334 minutes to academy expertise at Feyenoord within the league-winning 2022/23 season, he’s actually open to working with younger blood.
So how may every of those younger stars match into Slot’s Liverpool?
• READ FIRST: Arne Slot ways: Feyenoord system and the way Liverpool FC might arrange
Harvey Elliott
Age: 21LFC appearances: 119
We’ll begin with a simple one.
Elliott has absolutely damaged by means of now, enjoying an important function in Liverpool’s unlikely title problem of 2023/24.
The boyhood Liverpool fan can play as a No. 8, a No. 10 or a proper winger in Slot’s system, and has proven actual high quality each in his performances and his finish product – notching 11 assists in all competitions within the season simply gone.
I solely embody him as a reminder that, extremely, he’s nonetheless solely 21.
Position underneath Slot? The brand new head coach will love his versatility, similar to Klopp.
Jarell Quansah
Age: 21LFC appearances: 33
Composure on the ball (mistake at Previous Trafford apart) and dominance in defensive duels noticed Quansah leap from a League One mortgage to 33 senior appearances.
By the tip of the marketing campaign he’d overtaken Ibrahima Konate as the popular associate to Virgil van Dijk.
It’s that potential to play out that can attraction most to Slot.
The brand new gaffer is completely satisfied to play forwards shortly as soon as the area is on the market, however the buildup unit will see plenty of the ball at first – transferring it round to encourage stress and create area contained in the opponent’s block.
The centre-backs are additionally requested to play progressive passes forwards when the chance arises.
For all his undoubted skills, Konate shouldn’t be famend for this. Quansah could maintain his place within the beginning lineup because of this.
Position underneath Slot? Battling to remain Van Dijk’s first-choice associate.
Conor Bradley
Age: 20LFC appearances: 28
Bradley effectively and actually arrived in 2023/24.
The proper-back went from Participant of the 12 months at Bolton to scoring his first Anfield aim and beginning a Wembley cup remaining (each in opposition to Chelsea, funnily sufficient).
Given his likelihood when Trent Alexander-Arnold went out injured, the Northern Irishman was so good that the group’s system pivoted round him.
Out went the inverted right-back and in got here the lung-busting, overlapping Bradley to press excessive up the pitch and punctuate strikes within the remaining third.
This isn’t how Slot sometimes makes use of his full-backs. He depends on width in assault from his wingers, with full-backs extra prone to keep deeper and extra central.
It’s because, if the ball is turned over, the full-backs are nearer to their very own aim and thus extra capable of monitor again and defend the area behind them – one thing Liverpool have struggled with.
Slot might be pragmatic in pursuit of success, and he has a extremely proficient particular person to work with in Bradley.
However whether or not the system or the participant can bend to go well with the opposite is a query to reply in pre-season.
Position underneath Slot? Unclear, however he has proven he can emulate Alexander-Arnold’s function.
James McConnell
Age: 19LFC appearances: 9
Each younger participant has years of teaching in Liverpool’s aggressive out-of-possession strategy all through the age teams.
However when Liverpool wanted to mould an academy participant right into a defensive midfielder for the primary group in 2023/24, McConnell’s technical safety meant he acquired the decision.
Taking the ball underneath stress in the course of the excessive stakes of the Carabao Cup remaining showcased a composure and maturity past the 19-year-old’s tender years, and he later laid on a superb help within the FA Cup.
Hull Metropolis have already expressed an curiosity in him because of this.
Slot, in the meantime, is a serial player-improver. It’s the explanation he’s had quick success at each membership he’s managed, it’s how he succeeds on a price range, and it’s what FSG have employed him to do at Liverpool.
If he’s meant to look to the academy as a lot because the switch market, McConnell can be an incredible place to start out.
Position underneath Slot? If he stays, an possibility at No. 6.
Bobby Clark
Age: 19LFC appearances: 14
Clark not often performs the spectacular. He receives the ball effectively, he releases the ball on the proper time, and he counter-presses successfully.
Probably the most eye-catching high quality he has demonstrated in 14 appearances is to not catch the attention.
He merely seems like he belongs within the engine room of an elite group, regardless of being simply 19 years of age.
Slot asks his midfielders to indicate for the ball and rotate fluidly with a purpose to play brief, fast passes that disrupt the opposition’s defensive form.
Clark’s in-possession recreation is ideal for this.
The No. 8s for Slot are additionally speculated to contribute objectives and assists increased up the pitch, in order that’s an space for Clark to enhance if he’s to kick on.
Position underneath Slot? The right candidate as one of many No. 8s.
Jayden Danns
Age: 18LFC appearances: 5
Probably the most sought-after profiles in fashionable soccer is the ‘nine-and-a-half’. A striker who can hyperlink play like Roberto Firmino but in addition rating objectives like Erling Haaland.
Danns’ potential to each hyperlink play and rating helped him break into the primary group and earned comparisons with Harry Kane.
Earlier than we get too excited, although, Danns is way from the extent of a Harry Kane simply but.
He’s scored two senior Liverpool objectives, each in opposition to Championship opposition, and remains to be constructing the bodily capability to compete on the elite stage.
There’s a motive Klopp left him on the bench when searching for a aim at Goodison Park in April.
By way of profile, Danns is a serious asset for Slot to inherit. Subsequent season is probably going too quickly to anticipate a serious contribution at Anfield – however then, many would have had stated the identical final summer time.
Position underneath Slot? Possibilities could also be slim, however extra expertise to come back up entrance.
Stefan Bajcetic
Age: 19LFC appearances: 22
His 2022/23 breakout marketing campaign was so good {that a} full absence in 2023/24 hasn’t quietened the speak round Bajcetic.
The most important query has been round his place.
Breaking in as a No. 6, usurping the ageing Fabinho, Bajcetic paired his technical safety with infinite working and crunching tackles.
However his press-resistance and dribbling potential, in addition to an underrated cool in entrance of aim, recommend his finest place is because the No. 8.
Sadly for him, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch all have comparable attacking upsides.
Bajcetic’s long-limbed type of tackling and his robustness in bodily duels make him finest suited to a deeper function – not less than within the brief time period.
Position underneath Slot? Extra likelihood within the No. 6 function for now.
