With Liverpool’s ever impressive youth academy, our locals here at the Football Transfer Tavern have provided us with their five-a-side made up of players under the age of 21.
The first team’s form is red-hot at the moment, but the youngsters within the club remain fundamental to the club’s long-term future.
Famously, players such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have come through the youth setup at Liverpool and become icons to the Anfield faithful. If Liverpool are to recapture the glory years at Anfield of both domestic and European success, it’s difficult to see them achieve such aspirations without allowing youth team players to develop.
Our Tavern landlord was rather apprehensive regarding the inclusion of some players, but after much debate, he has concluded that in fact – Liverpool would be a much better team with some of these youngsters injected into the first-team to add much-needed competition.
Here is the ultimate youthful Liverpool five-a-side team…
Divock Origi
Belgian forward Origi is still only 21 years-old despite us having the impression the former Lille striker has been around for years.
Once likened to Mario Balotelli for his ability, Origi is slowly becoming the player everyone had high expectations for. A poor run of injuries added with a difficult start in England forced Origi down the pecking order at Liverpool, but he’s certainly now beginning to show his potential – and would make the ideal forward option in this five-a-side team.
Connor Masterson
Dublin-born Connor Masterson is gathering a number of plaudits for his impressive performances at youth level. The central-defender is widely tipped to have a bright future ahead and regularly has impressed the coaching staff at Anfield.
With Masterson at the back one thing you’re guaranteed is the stability, something which Jamie Carragher delivered for the Reds for so many years.
Masterson is destined to play for his home country of the Republic of Ireland in the near future and whether his career is at Anfield or elsewhere, we will long remember the name of Connor Masterson.
Cameron Brannagan
The midfield general and the youth player most widely expected to join the first-team on a regular basis. Brannagan was first brought into the first-team squad by former manager Brendan Rodgers before injuries and the return to fitness of key players forced him back down the pecking order.
Brannagan was likened to Steven Gerrard in his early days and Brannagan’s style would not be too dissimilar to the former Liverpool captain.
Brooks Lennon
After the departure of Jerome Sinclair to Watford, Brooks Lennon has become the most favoured Liverpool academy forward with a first-team debut believed by our punters to be not far off the horizon.
Lennon has the ability to play anywhere across the Liverpool front three and would make the perfect five-a-side player according to our Liverpool regulars.
Don’t be surprised to see the 19-year-old be given his chance in the first-team anytime soon.
Shamal George
Born in the Wirral, Shamal George has already experienced being a member of Jurgen Klopp’s matchday squad as he ousted Adam Bogdan as second-choice goalkeeper at the end of the 2015/2016.
George’s athleticism make him the ideal candidate to keep the goal safe in this five-a-side team and is already a regular for the Liverpool u-21 squad despite still being only 18 years-old.
He is likely to see a return to the match-day squad should an injury occur to either of Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeepers.
