---
title: "Liverpool: Fans dismiss James Pearce’s claims about Reds’ use of academy players"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fans-dismiss-james-pearces-claims-about-reds-use-of-academy-players/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-09-21T20:00:26Z"
modified: "2019-09-21T20:00:26Z"
---

# Liverpool: Fans dismiss James Pearce’s claims about Reds’ use of academy players

**In a recent article for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/1220901/2019/09/20/are-chelsea-now-better-than-liverpool-at-promoting-prospects-from-academy/), 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](https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1175071313901314049) and noted that Jurgen Klopp has [given Liverpool debuts to 15 academy players](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jurgen-klopp/debuetanten/trainer/118), 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](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). Klopp has handed out 15 debuts to Academy youngsters but most of them have since moved on. [https://t.co/mHlurPRYlV](https://t.co/mHlurPRYlV)
>
> — James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) [September 20, 2019](https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1175071313901314049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

While Trent Alexander-Arnold has [emerged from the Reds’ academy to make 93 first team appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trent-alexander-arnold/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/314353), many others have failed to establish themselves at Anfield under Klopp.

[Ryan Kent](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ryan-kent/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/279457) ([now with Rangers](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49552351)), [Sergi Canos](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergi-canos/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/251845) ([Brentford](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sergi-canos/transfers/spieler/251845)) and [Joe Maguire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-maguire/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/263556) ([Accrington Stanley](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-maguire/transfers/spieler/263556)) all made only one senior appearance before leaving the Reds, while Rafael Camacho had just [two games for the club](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafael-camacho/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/400831) before being [moved on to Sporting Lisbon](https://www.sporting.pt/pt/noticias/clube/comunicados/2019-06-27/comunicado-sporting-clube-de-portugal-futebol-sad-0) this year.

Chelsea have been grateful to academy players for their results so far this season, with [Tammy Abraham](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tammy-abraham/profil/spieler/331726), [Mason Mount](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mason-mount/profil/spieler/346483) and [Fikayo Tomori](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fikayo-tomori/profil/spieler/303254) accounting for [all but two of their goals in 2019/20](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-chelsea/leistungsdaten/verein/631). However, the London club were banned from signing players this summer, as noted by [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48202945).

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/LFCPatrick91/status/1175088183991820288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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/kaushikadvait1/status/1175072718363906048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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](https://twitter.com/DevlinLFC/status/1175083395103240193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> calm down they have had a transfer ban mate
>
> — Sismo (@\_Sismo\_\_) [September 20, 2019](https://twitter.com/_Sismo__/status/1175074675187208193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Do you think Liverpool could do more to integrate academy players into the first team? Have your say in the comments section below!***