These academy products could save Liverpool millions in the transfer market Opinion
Opinion

These academy products could save Liverpool millions in the transfer market

These academy products could save Liverpool millions in the transfer market

Over the years, Liverpool's academy has produced an array of world-class talent. From the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard to current star Trent Alexander-Arnold the list of players to come out of the club's academy is endless.

With the Covid-19 pandemic likely to affect football's transfer market in a big way, having a successful academy will be a big advantage to clubs.

We've already seen the pandemic impact Liverpool specifically. It had been widely expected that German forward Timo Werner would join the Reds to bolster their already prolific front line. But financial implications of the crisis meant Liverpool had to pull out of the deal paving the way for Chelsea to swoop in.

While there has been speculation the club may look at alternatives such as Ousmane Dembele it is more likely the club's academy stars will play a bigger role.

All rights reserved by REUTERS/Albert Gea
All rights reserved by REUTERS/Albert Gea

In particular, there are already three players from the academy who stand out from the rest and could save the club millions in the transfer market.

Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott have all impressed when called upon in cup competitions and are likely to feature in the closing games of the season when it gets back underway in a fortnight's time.

With clubs now permitted to make five substitutions, it is likely these three, in particular, will feature for Liverpool.

Another scouser in the team

Having been a part of Liverpool's academy since he was nine years old, Curtis Jones lives and breathes Liverpool.

Like Alexander-Arnold Jones has been a Liverpool fan for his whole life and so instantly won over the Reds' faithful.

All rights reserved by Goal UK
All rights reserved by Goal UK

Making his first-team debut in an FA Cup defeat to Wolves in January 2019 he's kicked on this season and shown why he's so highly thought of at the club.

Scoring the winning penalty at the Kop end in the shootout victory over Arsenal in the League Cup was a dream come true for Jones. Yet he managed to eclipse this when he smashed home the winner in the Merseyside Derby in the FA Cup.

This goal alone demonstrated both his confidence and talent and he has become well known at Melwood for his technical ability and quick feet.

With Adam Lallana set for pastures new Jones is set for a regular role next season.

Having divided his time between the first team and U23s this campaign he has also demonstrated his superb leadership abilities by taking the captain's armband for the reserve side.

The next Trent?

Despite only being 21 himself Trent Alexander-Arnold is already looked up to as a senior pro by many of the academy players.

All rights reserved by the London Evening Standard
All rights reserved by the London Evening Standard

One of these is fellow right-back Neco Williams who in an interview with the club's website highlighted how much he's learned from his colleague.

And it certainly seems to have rubbed off on the Welshman. It's been a whirlwind year for the 19-year-old who has gone from playing in the academy to being on the bench in Qatar in December when Liverpool became World Champions.

Just like with Jones Williams has also impressed in cup games this season particularly in the aforementioned FA Cup win over Everton.

Defensively he's looked right at home as part of Liverpool's back four and while sterner tests will surely come if he makes the grade in the first team his performances have been impressive.

His stats for the academy's teams show that he's first and foremost a defender. But Klopp likes his fullbacks to get forward and he's got that in his locker too. In the games, he has played so far it was clear to see that training with Trent has paid off.

Williams' delivery from the right side is fantastic and could be turned into another dangerous asset for Liverpool.

All rights reserved by FIFA
All rights reserved by FIFA

These performances have convinced Klopp he is the perfect cover for Alexander-Arnold and with it clear that Trent can play further forward, a position may open up for Williams in the future.

The Jewel in the academy's crown

In May 2019 Harvey Elliott made history when he became the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League. A substitute for Fulham against Wolves, he was just 16 years and 30 days old.

Described as an "exceptional talent" by Jurgen Klopp Liverpool were keen to snap him up. And they weren't alone. Some of the biggest clubs in the world wanted to sign Elliott who even got a tour of Real Madrid's stadium with the Spanish giants keen to make him theirs.

But in the end, it was always going to be Liverpool for this boyhood red.

Elliott has already made his Premier League debut for Liverpool but like the other academy products, it is in the cup competitions where he has really shone.

Always keen to get on the ball and make things happen the confidence he has for such a young age is frightening.

All rights reserved by Goal UK
All rights reserved by Goal UK

He also has a wand of a left foot as the woodwork at MK Dons can attest to when he rattled the bar in the League Cup victory in September.

Seen as a future star for both club and country it's going to be hugely exciting to see how Elliott develops over the next few years. He may have to bide his time with Liverpool having plenty of options in the attacking positions but it may just be worth the wait.

While Jones, Williams and Elliott may be the cream of the crop when it comes to Liverpool's academy the talent doesn't stop there. Big things are expected of Rhian Brewster who has been on loan at Swansea and there is also the likes of Yasser Larouci, Paul Glatzel, Adam Lewis and more to consider.

Football is going to look very different in the coming months and years as the financial implications of Covid-19 are made clearer. Clubs with good academy prospects are likely to do better than those who solely rely on big-money signings. And in that regard, Liverpool are in a very healthy position.

Place comments

666

0 Comments

More comments

You are currently seeing only the comments you are notified about, if you want to see all comments from this post, click the button below.

Show all comments

Popular

Latest news