With the 2024/25 marketing campaign now properly underway, a number of thrilling younger abilities are rising as ones to look at inside Liverpool’s flourishing academy setup.
Two months into the season and there are vastly optimistic indicators all through the membership as a brand new regime takes over on the AXA Coaching Centre.
Whereas there have been massive modifications in personnel within the first crew with the appointment of Arne Slot and his backroom, a lot has stayed the identical off the pitch in the case of the U21s and U18s.
So which gamers are making their mark in Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s youth ranks thus far?
Listed here are 10 children you ought to be maintaining a tally of from Liverpool’s academy.
Kornel Misciur – Goalkeeper
Age: 17
Nationality: English/Polish
Although he has shared duties with Harvey Davies, Misciur has benefited from an premature purple card for his older teammate to determine himself as No. 1 for the U21s.
He has achieved so regardless of solely turning 17 earlier this yr, together with his stature and stage of efficiency belying his younger years.
An impressive shot-stopper, Misciur can also be composed with the ball at his toes and is creating a powerful command of his space, with it no shock that he’s already being built-in as a part of first-team coaching.
Carter Pinnington – Centre-back
Age: 17
Nationality: English
The primary half of the season has seen an skilled core kind inside Lewtas’ U21s, however teenage defender Pinnington is likely one of the youngest within the group and regarded probably the most high-potential.
Pinnington is a tall, sturdy centre-back who has additionally been deployed at left-back at levels this season, with coaches cherishing his versatility.
From the Wirral, he really made his debut for the U21s as a 15-year-old again in 2022/23, however he’s now being relied upon as a bona fide mainstay within the group.
Ranel Younger – Striker
Age: 18
Nationality: English
Younger has been unlucky with accidents in latest seasons, however appears to be capitalising on the absence Jayden Danns thus far this time period as he takes up a brand new position up entrance.
Although a pure winger, the 18-year-old has impressed in a central place for the U21s, gaining extra of an understanding of the varieties of runs and physicality required in main the road.
He scored a sensational solo objective in a 3-2 win over Sunderland in September and has proven promise within the UEFA Youth League in opposition to the likes of AC Milan and Bologna too.
DJ Esdaille – Proper-back
Age: 16
Nationality: English
One of many youngest gamers on this record, Scouser and first-year scholar Esdaille is seeking to emulate Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s rise.
There are definitely similarities in the best way they play at right-back, not least within the accountability Esdaille is already taking over in an often-inverted position for the U18s.
Regardless of not turning 17 till December, the teen greater than holds his personal in bodily battles and serves to be probably the most thrilling abilities in Bridge-Wilkinson’s group.
Alvin Ayman – Central midfielder
Age: 17
Nationality: Egyptian
Summer season signing Ayman (pictured left) arrived from Wolves in direction of the tip of the summer season after a protracted wait to ratify a switch price round £1.5 million.
Liverpool’s outlay might have elevated expectations, nevertheless it has been a quiet begin to life on the membership thus far, with warning taken as {the teenager} in eased into motion.
However there have been promising indicators already, and Ayman’s capability to dominate as a box-to-box midfielder ought to start to point out because the marketing campaign progresses.
Ollie O’Connor – Attacking midfielder
Age: 16
Nationality: English
Earlier than the season started, few could have highlighted O’Connor as one of many Liverpool children to look at, however the Scouser has already stood out among the many U18s’ high performers.
He has achieved so in quite a lot of positions, together with out huge, however he appears most comfy in his extra pure position as a central midfielder.
There’s a poise to his sport that’s typically missing with gamers of his age, and Bridge-Wilkinson appears set to rely upon him as a staple of his beginning lineup – rightly so.
Joe Bradshaw – Winger
Age: 16
Nationality: English
There could also be extra deal with newer arrivals in Liverpool’s youth ranks in these early months of the season, however Bradshaw’s continued progress shouldn’t be missed.
Signed from Accrington Stanley in 2021, he’s now a daily starter on both flank for the U18s, whereas he can be utilised extra centrally.
Alongside together with his nimble toes and eye for a cross, Bradshaw appears to be honing his decision-making in entrance of objective – although a expensive penalty miss in September’s 3-2 loss to Newcastle, when he had pulled rank over common taker Josh Sonni-Lambie, reveals room to develop.
Rio Ngumoha – Winger
Age: 16
Nationality: English
There was a palpable pleasure about Ngumoha since his arrival from Chelsea over the summer season, although expectations across the younger winger needs to be dampened.
At this stage, the 16-year-old is understandably uncooked, together with his choice to run at defenders seeing him fail to notice a extra helpful cross on a variety of events.
However there may be additionally a lot to get pleasure from about Ngumoha’s sport, and with coaches taking a eager deal with his improvement – coaching with the U21s each day – there are hopes he can blossom when he settles.
Kieran Morrison – Attacking midfielder
Age: 17
Nationality: Northern Irish
It’s arduous to consider that Morrison remains to be solely 17, having lengthy been earmarked as one of many stars of the academy.
Coaches throughout the youth setup have opted for a gradual strategy when monitoring his progress, and it is just now – two seasons after he first broke by means of with the U18s – that he’s thought-about a daily for the U21s.
He has taken on that improve in accountability admirably, and arising in opposition to greater, extra skilled defenders has required him to fluctuate his assaults extra, which is thus far paying off.
Amara Nallo – Centre-back
Age: 17
Nationality: English
Already on the first-team radar, Nallo has been put in as the principle centre-back for Liverpool U21s this season because the likes of Pinnington and Wellity Fortunate rotate round him.
There was an emphasis on the 17-year-old to steer the crew from the guts of defence, together with carrying the captain’s armband within the U19s’ 2-1 win over Bologna within the UEFA Youth League.
Nallo scored the winner that afternoon, with the addition of targets to his sport complementing an achieved skillset as a fast, sturdy and technically gifted centre-half.
