With the 2024/25 marketing campaign now nicely underway, a number of thrilling younger skills are rising as ones to observe inside Liverpool’s flourishing academy setup.
Two months into the season and there are massively optimistic indicators all through the membership as a brand new regime takes over on the AXA Coaching Centre.
Whereas there have been massive adjustments in personnel within the first workforce with the appointment of Arne Slot and his backroom, a lot has stayed the identical off the pitch in relation to the U21s and U18s.
So which gamers are making their mark in Barry Lewtas and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s youth ranks up to now?
Listed below are 10 children try to be keeping track 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 pink 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, along with his stature and degree of efficiency belying his younger years.
An impressive shot-stopper, Misciur can 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 type 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 truly 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 current seasons, however seems to be to be capitalising on the absence Jayden Danns up to now this time period as he takes up a brand new function 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 kinds of runs and physicality required in main the road.
He scored a sensational solo purpose 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 checklist, 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 function 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 skills in Bridge-Wilkinson’s group.
Alvin Ayman – Central midfielder
Age: 17
Nationality: Egyptian
Summer time signing Ayman (pictured left) arrived from Wolves in the direction of the top of the summer time after an extended wait to ratify a switch price round £1.5 million.
Liverpool’s outlay could have elevated expectations, however it has been a quiet begin to life on the membership up to now, with warning taken as {the teenager} in eased into motion.
However there have been promising indicators already, and Ayman’s means to dominate as a box-to-box midfielder ought to start to indicate because the marketing campaign progresses.
Ollie O’Connor – Attacking midfielder
Age: 16
Nationality: English
Earlier than the season started, few can have highlighted O’Connor as one of many Liverpool children to observe, however the Scouser has already stood out among the many U18s’ high performers.
He has achieved so in a wide range of positions, together with out broad, however he seems to be most comfy in his extra pure function as a central midfielder.
There’s a poise to his recreation that’s typically missing with gamers of his age, and Bridge-Wilkinson seems to be set to depend upon him as a staple of his beginning lineup – rightly so.
Joe Bradshaw – Winger
Age: 16
Nationality: English
There could also be extra concentrate on newer arrivals in Liverpool’s youth ranks in these early months of the season, however Bradshaw’s continued progress shouldn’t be neglected.
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 along with his nimble toes and eye for a cross, Bradshaw seems to be to be honing his decision-making in entrance of purpose – 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 time, although expectations across the younger winger ought to be dampened.
At this stage, the 16-year-old is understandably uncooked, along with his desire to run at defenders seeing him miss out on a extra helpful cross on quite a lot of events.
However there may be additionally a lot to take pleasure in about Ngumoha’s recreation, and with coaches taking a eager concentrate on his growth – 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 imagine that Morrison remains to be solely 17, having lengthy been earmarked as one of many stars of the academy.
Coaches inside the youth setup have opted for a gentle strategy when monitoring his progress, and it’s only now – two seasons after he first broke by 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 larger, extra skilled defenders has required him to differ his assaults extra, which is up to now paying off.
Amara Nallo – Centre-back
Age: 17
Nationality: English
Already on the first-team radar, Nallo has been put in as the primary 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 workforce 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 recreation complementing an completed skillset as a fast, sturdy and technically gifted centre-half.
