For all the criticism’s levelled at Brendan Rodgers during his time as Liverpool boss, one thing he can never be accused of is failure to give young players an opportunity.
Since Rodgers’ arrival at Anfield in the summer of 2012, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Jon Flanagan, and most recently Jordon Ibe have established themselves as important first team players at Anfield whilst plenty of other prospects have been given various opportunities in cup competitions and the Premier League.
Tonight sees the Reds resume European action in the Europa League and perhaps another chance to give some of the club’s exciting youngsters a chance to show what they can do.
Liverpool already boast one of the youngest squads in the Premier League, with Emre Can (21), Lazar Markovic (20), Jordon Ibe (19), Raheem Sterling (20) and Philippe Coutinho (22), already key members of the first team squad.
Yet there could still be further starlets breaking into the Liverpool line-up shortly. Here are five we think have a chance of making it into the first team set up next season.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal the 5 Liverpool kids to breakthrough into the first team in 2015/16.
[/ffc-gallery]
Jordan Rossiter
It took the 17-year-old midfielder less than 15 minutes of his first Liverpool start to fire his first goal for the club when the Reds beat Middlesbrough in that epic penalty shootout in the Capital One Cup last September.
Rossiter has since made the bench for the first team and may well have been involved in the Europa League had it not been for an ankle ligament injury that will see him ruled out for two months.
His Anfield debut impressed many, not just for the goal he scored but his passing ability and work-rate in the middle of the park. With Steven Gerrard moving on in the summer, it may be time for another local lad to shine in the heart of the Liverpool midfield.
Jordan Williams
Michael Williams is known to both team-mates and coaches as Jordan which isn’t particularly helpful when you consider the Reds already have Henderson, Ibe and the previously mentioned Rossiter all competing for roles in the Liverpool midfield.
The Welshman is capable of playing either as a defender or a midfielder with his best attribute being his excellent range of passing.
Williams was another young midfielder who made his first team debut in the Capital One Cup win over Middlesbrough last September, scoring two penalties in a contender for the longest shootout of all-time.
Sheyi Ojo
A pacey winger capable of playing on either flank, Sheyi Ojo joined the club from MK Dons in 2011.
He has been likened to both Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe and was on the bench for the Boxing Day visit to Burnley.
Ojo has since moved to Championship strugglers Wigan Athletic on loan for remainder of the season and was awarded the man of the match on his debut, despite only playing for 30 minutes as a second half substitute.
Joao Carlos Teixeira
The young Portuguese playmaker came to the attention of a number of clubs following some superb performances for Sporting Lisbon in the NextGen series.
But it was the Reds who won the race for the signature of the player dubbed ‘the new Deco’ and he made his Premier League debut in the Premier League win at Fulham last season.
Teixeira is currently on loan at Championship outfit Brighton & Hove Albion where he has been a bright spark in a disappointing season for the Seagulls.
He has five goals to his name for the Seagulls so far whilst his recent two-goal performance against promotion chasing Ipswich Town was a fine showcase of his talents.
Harry Wilson
The exciting prospect made the headlines when he was called up to Wales’ senior international squad at the tender age of 16 last season, becoming his country’s youngest ever player when coming on as a sub in a World Cup qualifier against Belgium.
He is yet to make his first team debut for the Reds but it can’t be too far off if his performances at youth level are anything to go by.
Wilson has all the qualities of a top class left winger, with touch, pace, and skill in abundance. Still with plenty to learn, if the 17-year-old can improve his final product when getting into decent positions, the Reds will have another exciting prospect on their hands.
