Today, we’re talking about the subject of Liverpool’s youth and academy ranks here in the Football Transfer Tavern with Reds supporters questioning which young stars we’ll see grace the Anfield turf before the current season is out.
So far we’ve seen Jurgen Klopp give opportunities to the likes of Connor Randall and Cameron Brannagan in the Capital One Cup against AFC Bournemouth and our avid Reds fans are wondering which other academy products might follow their lead?
In Randall especially, the 20-year-old local Liverpudlian has been a part of Liverpool’s matchday squad on nine separate occasions already this term with Klopp clearly believing that the former Shrewsbury Town loanee has a bright future ahead of him at Anfield.
With Liverpool unfortunately boasting the second highest number of injuries to first team squad members at the moment according to Physio Room, it is likely that a few more Reds youngsters could be tasting action in Klopp’s matchday squad before the end of 2015/16.
While Liverpool and Klopp especially is likely to want to bring in his own signings in the January transfer window, there has always been the onus to nurture and bring through young talent at Anfield.
With this in mind, we’ve devised a list of five Liverpool kids who could be seen before the end of the current campaign.
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Click on the image below to reveal the five Liverpool kids we could see before the end of 2015/16.
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Daniel Cleary
Figuring as part of the Liverpool squad that travelled to Australasia on their tour to Bangkok, Brisbane and Adelaide in the summer, these experiences would’ve proved vital in Daniel Cleary’s overall development.
The Irish centre back also made Brendan Rodgers’ matchday squad for the Reds opening UEFA Europa League game against Bordeaux earlier this season but hasn’t figured since that game back on September 17th.
In reality, we’ll probably only see Cleary if injuries strike for the likes of Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho in Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren’s absence but you never know.
Ryan Kent
Currently impressing out on loan at League One Coventry City in a team that also currently boasts former Liverpool flop Joe Cole, Ryan Kent has already racked up 11 appearances for the Sky Blues since signing on loan back in September.
Often deployed on the left wing where he can cut in on his right foot, Kent is equally adept on the other flank or alternatively as a secondary striker and it’s fair to say that under the Brendan Rodgers regime, he liked his versatile pros!
Kent’s current loan spell at the Ricoh Arena ends on January 16th and if he continues his upward curve, perhaps he could be a wildcard choice from the bench in the second half of the season for the Reds if a loan moves prevails for the likes of Divock Origi.
Sergi Canos
Picked up from Barcelona back in 2013, yet only receiving international clearance in November of that year, Sergi Canos is currently competing at a good level for his age, enjoying a temporary loan spell in the Championship with Brentford despite being just 18-years-old.
With the Bees preaching an expansive style of play, Canos is learning in a good environment and the young Spanish winger-cum-forward scored last time out against Nottingham Forest at Griffin Park, registering just three minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute for John Swift.
With his loan up in West London in January, Brentford might not be able to negotiate an extension if injuries strike the Reds down around the New Year programme.
With Daniel Sturridge’s injury troubles well documented, not to mention Danny Ings being out for the season, you never know, Canos could be recalled.
Liverpool have had young Spanish talent on their books in recent years in the form of Daniel Ayala, Dani Pacheco and Mikel San Jose but Reds fans will be hoping he does a little bit better than that trio!
Well, maybe the first two because in San Jose, the now Athletic Bilbao man is actually a senior Spanish international which is no mean feat at all!
Jerome Sinclair
Liverpool supporters are already well acquainted with Jerome Sinclair who became the Reds’ youngest ever player – aged just 16 and 6 days when he emerged from the bench in a cup tie against former youth employers West Bromwich Albion back in 2012/13.
To be honest, since then, opportunities have been extremely limited but Sinclair did appear from the bench against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the end of last season, not to mention making up Jurgen Klopp’s first ever matchday squad as an unused substitute at Tottenham earlier this campaign.
If Sturridge’s injury troubles worsen and Divock Origi completes a January loan switch away from Anfield, perhaps Sinclair’s first team opportunity may open up in such circumstances.
Harry Wilson
Another young Reds player currently out on loan is Harry Wilson who has racked up seven appearances for League One Crewe Alexandra so far this season.
Becoming Liverpool’s youngest ever international player back in 2013 when he received a shock call-up to Chris Coleman’s senior international Welsh side despite being just 16 years and 207 days old two years ago, Wilson’s feet have been kept firmly on the ground with the player only tasting his first ever first team experience at Crewe this current season.
The Cheshire club seem like an ideal fit for Wilson right now being just down the road from the city of Liverpool and with his current loan up in January, the winger could be recalled if injuries take hold for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
