With Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers implementing the policy of ‘if you are good enough, you are old enough’ at Anfield, one can be assured that the club will blood more young players this season. We look at the five under 21 players that may get their break through this season and become household names at Anfield in years to come.
1 – Jordan Ibe
Ibe is touted to be the replacement for Raheem Sterling at the club and has earned rave reviews from manager Brendan Rodgers and fans alike . , during the pre-season.
The youngster was tipped to feature heavily for Liverpool FC this season by manager Brendan Rodgers, who has duly kept his word by starting the youngster in the opening two games of the Premier League.
And while Ibe has not exactly set the world alight in those games, he was one of the few bright spots for the Reds in what was a disappointing 2014-15 season.
He signed for the club from Wycombe Wanderers in 2012 for Liverpool FC and since then has made rapid progress.
The 19-year-old winger had, earlier in the summer, cancelled his holiday and asked the cluba s Academy director Alex Inglethorpe to help arrange some extra sessions to work on his finishing with none other than Kenny Dalglish coaching him.
If he continues to display the same attitude on and off the field as he is doing currently, Ibe is sure to fulfill the massive potential that is evident every time the winger touches the ball for Liverpool FC and is the best talent in this list.
2 – Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez signed for Liverpool FC over the summer and has played in both opening games for the Reds.
Gomez is a defender for England U19, who can play across the back three. He made 21 appearances for Charlton in the Championship in the 2014/15 season.
Gomez was a part of England side which won the European U17 Championships last summer, and was named in the team of the tournament in the process. His performances earned him comparisons with former England star Rio Ferdinand, whom Gomez idolizes.
He has progressed quickly at Charlton, playing for the U18 side at the age of 13, and was given his senior debut by former boss Bob Peeters in a Capital One Cup tie against Colchester United last August.
Gomez has been so solid in the pre-season that manager Brendan Rodgers has loaned out much more experienced Andre Wisdom and has benched Spain international Alberto Moreno.
3 – Jerome Sinclair
Jerome Sinclair, 18, is highly regarded at Liverpool FC and was handed his Premier League debut as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge towards the end of 2014-15 season.
The striker became the youngest player ever to play for Liverpool FC when he made his debut in a Capital One Cup win at West Brom in September 2012 at the age of 16 years and six days.
Sinclair was sent on a loan spell at Wigan Athletic last season but made just one appearance for the championship side who struggled in the league.
The player is currently embroiled in contract issues with Liverpool FC, and losing him could be a blow for the club with the player tipped as one of the best prospects to emerge from Liverpool FC academy in recent years.
4 – Harry Wilson
Wilson has come into the spotlight right from the moment the winger became the youngest ever player to represent Wales in October 2013 despite only having played a handful of Liverpool U18 games at the time.
Last season was a good one for Wilson, having progressed to the U21 level.
The pacey winger initially struggled, mainly due to his slim build, but with time, he adapted well and was a constant threat to opposition with his skills and elusiveness.
Wilson displayed a keen eye for goal as he scored all sorts of goals, both, from distance and from close range. Wilson’s progress might be aided with a loan spell with the player not really playing at a high enough level to merit a break in the first team. He is another talented winger coming through the Anfield ranks following the emergence of Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe in recent times.
5 – Yan Dhanda
Dhanda was signed by the Reds from West Brom and the England U17 international has been earmarked for stardom for sometime now. Towards the later part of last season, Dhanda broke into the Liverpool U18 towards and also represented the club in the UEFA Youth league.
Dhanda is an attacking midfielder who can score goals. He likes to pick up the ball in channels and creates problems for the defense with his direct running and passing.
Big things are expected from Dhanda should he keep his head down and continue to progress the way he is, right now. The player should be able to break into the Reds’ U21 set up within the next two years and – should things go according to plan – in the Liverpool FC squad within the next five years.