Jurgen Klopp will be delighted by performances of midfield loanee - future is bright for 20-year-old

With all the talk of Liverpool being short in midfield and not having the numbers required to compete, Jurgen Klopp has actually been moving players out in that position.

Both young players Tyler Morton and Leighton Clarkson have moved on loan to Blackburn Rovers and Aberdeen respectively.

These moves have been made in order for the pair to gain first-team experience at lower levels to help them mature and grow as players.

It could turn out to be a big move in particular for Clarkson as he has moved all the way up north to Aberdeen and will be hoping to build on his experiences in pre-season with the first team.

Clarkson impressing in Scotland

A loan move away at 20 years old should help Clarkson to develop both as a player and as a young man as he steps away from youth football into senior football.

Being a regular starter in the Scottish Premiership can also be advantageous to a young player - especially given the physicality of the league.

For example, Danny Ward made the loan move to Aberdeen from Liverpool in 2015 and his impressive performances put him into contention for the number one spot at Anfield.

Ward has now gone on to earn a place as Leicester City’s shot-stopper at the beginning of this season due to Kasper Schmeichel leaving for Nice.

Coming off the bench last week against St Mirren, the young midfielder got his loan off to a flying start. He latched into a good layoff on the edge of the box and smashed the ball into the top corner during a 4-1 win.

On Saturday, Clarkson was rewarded with a start in the middle of the park, in a two-man midfield where he showcased his technical ability. Despite a slight disconnect between him and his teammates, Clarkson retained possession very well and often picked the right passes.

With a sharp first touch and the right weight behind his passes, it is clear to see Clarkson can play at a higher level.

Aberdeen put in an overall poor performance during the 3-2 home defeat to Motherwell however.

Building for the future

Being very busy in midfield and getting stuck in despite being up against much bigger players physically, shows the correct attitude.

Jurgen Klopp and his scouts will no doubt be impressed with these early games of the season as there definitely looks to be a good player in there.

The Reds already boast young midfield talent in the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliot and Fabio Carvalho, making it extra important for Clarkson to impress if he ever wants to make it at Anfield.

Leighton Clarkson is definitely a player to look out for in the future, whether it is at Liverpool or elsewhere.