In a recent article for The Athletic, James Pearce posed the question as to whether Chelsea are better than Liverpool at promoting academy prospects into the first team.
The journalist shared a link to the piece on his Twitter account @JamesPearceLFC and noted that Jurgen Klopp has given Liverpool debuts to 15 academy players, many of whom have since left the club.
The bar has rarely been set higher for young players trying to make the grade at #LFC. Klopp has handed out 15 debuts to Academy youngsters but most of them have since moved on. https://t.co/mHlurPRYlV
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) September 20, 2019
While Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged from the Reds’ academy to make 93 first team appearances, many others have failed to establish themselves at Anfield under Klopp.
Ryan Kent (now with Rangers), Sergi Canos (Brentford) and Joe Maguire (Accrington Stanley) all made only one senior appearance before leaving the Reds, while Rafael Camacho had just two games for the club before being moved on to Sporting Lisbon this year.
Chelsea have been grateful to academy players for their results so far this season, with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori accounting for all but two of their goals in 2019/20. However, the London club were banned from signing players this summer, as noted by BBC.
These Liverpool fans on Twitter challenged Pearce’s claims about Chelsea being better than the Reds at giving academy players chances in the first team:
Chelsea are not better. How many of their young lads went out on loan last season? An absurd amount. They’re using youth out of necessity.
— Patrick (@LFCPatrick91) September 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/nagertomo1/status/1175072485831786498
Sorry James, but Chelsea have been forced to play youth. It isn't by choice. Read somewhere that it's like congratulating a man for walking to work when he's been banned from driving. Couldn't be more true. Of course, credit the players for taking the opportunity, but the club?
— Advait Kaushik (@kaushikadvait1) September 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/fishpainting/status/1175095439051411462
What? Why is this even a question…. Over the last 10 years no team in UK has invested more money in youth than Chelsea and not a single one broke into that team since Lampard 2001 ( I think ).. It's only happened this year because of a transfer ban…
— Dev (@DevlinLFC) September 20, 2019
calm down they have had a transfer ban mate
— Sismo (@_Sismo__) September 20, 2019
Do you think Liverpool could do more to integrate academy players into the first team? Have your say in the comments section below!
