A number of Liverpool fans have been heaping praise on promising Reds youngster James Balagizi, following his hat-trick for the Under-18s.

It is always exciting to see a talented young player pulling up trees at the academy, with a view to them becoming the next big thing at Anfield.

The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones have done exactly that in recent years, jumping from youth team prospects to key first team squad members.

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Jurgen Klopp has always been a keen advocate of youth, which should give the current academy players even more hope of making the grade one day.

One of the most exciting current youngsters at Kirkby is Balagizi and he enhanced his reputation further on Friday night, bagging a hat-trick in the U18s' 5-1 win away to Leicester City, securing a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup in the process.

Liverpool fans laud Balagizi

Some Liverpool fans took to Twitter to wax lyrical over the 17-year-old on Twitter, with supporters wondering if he could make an appearance on the first team bench, while others compared him to what Divock Origi should be capable of.

"Should he be on the bench now to add goals to the team?"

Credit: @lfcmaster33

"He does look special"

Credit: @pageyontour13

"The kid's a baller"

Credit: @ReyaadM

"He plays like Origi should play"

Credit: @01mJulian

"Top top prospect"

Credit: @gavdabLFC

"He looks some player"

Credit: @graemewhammond

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to a key update regarding the Reds' famous front-three. Read more here.