Liverpool’s official website has undergone something of a revamp over the last few days. Among the pages to be updated ahead of the new season is that belonging to our academy side, which has now been enhanced to include 39 names, including several that you might not have come across before.
With the likes of Ryan Kent, Jordan Rossiter, Jerome Sinclair and Sheyi Ojo all having been promoted to the first-team page – looking to compete for a spot in Brendan Rodgers side or going out on loan – there’s a very different look to our second string set-up.
However, Michael Beale’s side will still be looking to go one better than last year, when they finished second in the Under-21 equivalent of the Premier League to Manchester United – so there remains plenty of exciting young talent to looking forward to seeing in a Liverpool shirt this season.
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Here’s our run down of every member of the squad along with our own ‘potential rating’, as detailed further on the official website:
Trent Alexander-Arnold (16) – 8/10
A creative central midfield player who has been compared to a young Steven Gerrard. He made his senior debut for the club at right-back in the friendly against Swindon on Sunday and did well. A local lad who has been with the club since the age of eight, he started last season as captain of our Under-16 team.
Tom Brewitt (18) – 6/10
This England youth team international is best known for being the captain of our Under-18 side. Our official website describes him as a committed defender, who possesses a fine positional sense out on the field. He also models his game after two iconic figures – Jamie Carragher and Carles Puyol.
Jake Brimmer (17) – 6/10
A box-to-box midfielder who joined the Reds at Under-16 level. The Australian-born star is a boyhood Liverpool fan and will have likely loved seeing us go up against boyhood club Melbourne back in 2013. He lists his dream ambition as winning the Champions League. Isn’t it the same for all of us, Jake?
Sergi Canos (18) – 7/10
The Spaniard joined Liverpool from Barcelona in the summer of 2013. A product of the world-renowned La Masia Academy, this kid comes with quite some reputation to live up to. Capable of playing down either flank or through the middle as a number nine, he says he wants to be the next David Villa.
Pedro Chirivella (18) – 8/10
A name that will be fairly familiar to most Liverpool fans by now. This former Valencia starlet was in attendance during our Far East tour last month and got a couple of short run-outs. A defensive midfielder, who plays in the traditional number six role, he lists his career highlight thus far as playing at Anfield.
Daniel Cleary (19) – 5/10
The youngster was used at right-back by Brendan Rodgers during pre-season, but does prefer a more central role. He is described as an aggressive defender who has strength in abundance, as well as a gifted ball player and can carry possession from the back to help open up pockets of space for his teammates to exploit.
Yan Dhanda (16) – 9/10
This Birmingham-born forward doesn’t turn 17 until December but comes with an impressive reputation. His favoured position is just off a central striker, in the number ten role, but he’s also capable of playing out on the left. He’s described as very creative and reportedly as an eye for goal. Watch his YouTube clips for a hint of what we hope’s to come. If he develops as is hoped we’ll be hearing more about him very soon.
Josh Dobie (17) – 6/10
A talented central-defender who worships the one and only Jamie Carragher. He’s been with the club since the age of five and now, as a 17-year-old, is progressing nicely though the ranks. His last outing came during a comfortable 2-0 pre-season victory over Cork City in Ireland.
Ovie Ejaria (17) – 6/10
A midfield player who we snatched away from Premier League rivals Arsenal, with whom he spent nine years of his youth career. He’s said to have a great engine and eye for a pass. He’s fuelled by a diet of his favourite food, which is listed as chicken, while his favourite Liverpool player is Philippe Coutinho.
Andrew Firth (18) – 5/10
A popular goalkeeper who is described as a fine shot-stopper. The youngster is also a talented snooker player and says he would have taken up the sport had Liverpool not come calling. He also says he’d prefer to be more like Iker Casillas than Simon Mignolet… which is probably a good thing.
Bradley Garton (17) – 5/10
A young midfielder who also featured against Cork. He was formerly on the books at Manchester United – never a good start for any Liverpool player – but perhaps one day he’ll make them regret letting him go.
Shamal George (17) – 5/10
A boyhood Liverpool fan, this goalkeeper is described as a good communicator and shot stopper. He used to play for local side Manor FC being before spotted by Liverpool, joining us back in 2009 at the age of 11.
Madger Gomes (18) – 6/10
This talented Spaniard was signed from Villarreal last year and is the source of much excitement in the Liverpool youth ranks. Madger was born in Alicante, although his parents are from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. He is described as having a sweet left-foot and he’s also a youth team international.
Toni Gomes (16) – 6/10
A Portuguese youth international whose routed are also in Guinea-Bissau. He striker blessed with blistering pace, we picked him up at the start of 2015 after being impressed by his performances in the Frenz International Cup in Indonesia.
Liam Griffin (17) – 5/10
This young English midfielder, who is one of many to earn the tag ‘talented’ on the official website, is described as being strong in the tackle with a great will to win. He is a former captain of the Under-16 team and has previously featured for Merseyside rivals Everton. Thankfully, he chose right in the end.
Sam Hart (18) – 5/10
The latest in a series of promising full-backs rising through the Liverpool ranks. This left-back was another who came from Manchester United, where he also relished pushing forward like all good modern defenders. Our website states that he can carry the attack with his fine athletic profile – but he’s also very strong in the tackle.
George Johnston (16) – 6/10
Another left-back who is also capable of playing in the middle of a back four. The 16-year-old has been with the club since the age of nine and is best known for his attacking bursts down the flank. He’s also earned caps at youth team level for Scotland.
Herbie Kane (16) – 8/10
A midfielder player with a habit for scoring spectacular goals. He was a regular member of the England team at the U17 European Championships and is being tipped highly for the future. He netted 15 times for us last season, and is technically exceptional. Watch this space.
Kane Lewis (17) – 7/10
A centre-back who arrived at the club after leaving Brentford in 2014. According to daswunderkind, a website specialising in young players, Lewis is a tall, elegant centre back. Fast and athletic, he is comfortable on the ball and has little fear playing out from the back – a key component of the Liverpool youth system.
Joe Maguire (19) – 6/10
The left-back was a semi-regular on the tour of Far East and looks to be Brendan Rodgers’ third choice for the position at present, behind Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno. The 19-year-old impressed with his assured performances during pre-season and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a chance later this year.
Will Marsh (18) – 6/10
Marsh arrived at the club from Wrexham, where he was a striker. For Liverpool he’s become more of a playmaking midfielder, using his intelligence and above average technique to bring the best out of himself. Like many of his teammates, he describes Ryan Kent as the most talented player he’s featured alongside.
Conor Masterson (16) – 6/10
A commanding centre-half from the Republic of Ireland. He made his debut for the Under-18 side last season and will be hoping to push on again over the next twelve months. He was with Dublin based side Lucan United before we offered him a move this time last year.
Suleman Naeem (16) – 6/10
This 16-year-old left-back was signed from Chester after impressing with their academy side in a game against Liverpool. He’s a local lad and will surely have been delighted to have made the step up.
Callum Nicholas (17) – 5/10
Another former Manchester United player who joined our youth ranks last summer. The official website describes him as a talented player who is capable of scoring goals – both from midfield and in a more advanced position. The 18-year-old idolises Zinedine Zidane and Paul Scholes.
Kris Owens (16) – 5/10
A local lad who is still only 16. He’s been with the academy side for seven years already and is progressing nicely through the ranks. Another left-back with a reportedly sweet left foot, he also offers versatility and can operate in a midfield role in order if needed, giving a better balance to the side.
Alex O’Hanlon (19) – 5/10
A left-midfielder who can also play in the middle, this Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is said to possess a sweet left foot, while his pinpoint free-kick deliveries have led to numerous assists. The official website also states that his close-control is fantastic and he loves to shoot at goal from long range.
Mich’el Parker (16) – 7/10
A powerful centre-back that was stolen from Arsenal’s clutches last summer. We reportedly beat off a lot of competition to secure his signature and he could definitely prove to be one to watch moving forward. The Londoner should be a regular for the Under-18 side this season.
Adam Phillips (17) – 6/10
The 17-year-old has already been a regular in our Under-18 team for a couple of years. He joined the club from Blackburn as an 11-year-old and is best known for his excellent passing range, as well as his free-kick expertise. He toured with the first-team squad ahead of last season.
Kristof Polgar (18) – 6/10
A powerful centre-back who joined us from Hungarian club MTK Budapest in 2012. He made his debut the following year, although an injury eventually ruled him out of most of the season. He returned in impressive fashion last year, modelling his game after his idol, Sergio Ramos.
Connor Randall (19) 6/10
A local born right-back who has been with the academy since the age of eight. Now approaching 20, he’s featured heavily for both the Under-18 and the Under-21 side over the last few years. He list his greatest achievement as playing in the first-team friendly against Shamrock Rovers.
Brad Smith (21) – 5/10
An Australian international left-back who has made one first-team appearance – against Chelsea in the Premier League in December 2013. Last season he spent time on loan at Swindon, but he hasn’t been able to get near the first-team again since his debut. At 21, another short-term deal likely awaits him this year.
Daniel Trickett-Smith (19) – 5/10
This highly rated midfielder turns 20 next month. He’s a former member of the highly rated Crewe youth team system, having joined the Reds back in 2012. The official website calls him an intelligent footballer, stating that the youngster takes extra care in possession and can create goals through his fine positional sense.
Lawrence Vigouroux (On Loan) (21) – 5/10
The goalkeeper joined us from Tottenham last summer and spent the year with the Under-21 team. He played a trial game against us for Swindon last weekend, and did well, before being unluckily beaten by Sheyi Ojo’s late winner. He did enough to impress the Robins coaching staff and will spend time on loan there this year.
Matthew Virtue (18) – 5/10
This midfield player started his career with Chelsea, before his family moved to Liverpool when he was 11. According to our official website, his fine awareness out on the field allows him to excel in the central-midfield role. He wants to take after former Reds favourite Xabi Alonso.
Jack Watts (17) – 6/10
A Scouser and a boyhood Liverpool fan – just what we like to see – and another midfielder looking to follow in the footsteps of every young Reds’ hero, Steven Gerrard. He mostly featured for the Under-18 team last year and will looking to push on again this season.
Owen Wheeler (17) – 5/10
An Adam Bogdan lookalike with a desire to join the Hungarian in the first-team squad in the future. This 17-year-old goalkeeper has been with us since 2012. He will compete with the likes of Andy Firth and Shamal George for a spot in the youth team.
Corey Whelan (17) – 5/10
A Republic of Ireland youth international who can play on both the right and in the middle of a defensive four. Like Trickett-Smith, he was a product of Crewe’s academy, before joining us back in 2007. He describes Liverpool as a passionate club and dream of playing at the top level of the game.
Harvey Whyte (16) – 6/10
Another player who started his career with Crewe. He made his Under-18s debut last season and is now expected to become a regular for the side during the coming season. He has trained with Scotland at youth level and looks to be a talented midfield player.
Harry Wilson (18) – 8/10
A full Welsh international from whom much is expected in a Liverpool shirt. He went on the tour of the Far East, and no doubt will have gained much from the experience, despite not featuring during a single minute of game time. He most admires Philippe Coutinho and wants to win the Ballon d’Or.
