Liverpool’s youth team have enjoyed serious prominence at the forefront of the club this season.
New head coach Arne Slot’s willingness to use youth players in the first-team, as well as initiating younger recruits by allowing them to train with the first-team, has brought players to prominence.
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Trey Nyoni and Tyler Morton have been two of the most noticeable inclusions, as well as under-21 captain Amara Nallo making his first-team matchday squad debut against Newcastle last week.
Younger players have also been making the step up in age groups, showcasing the talent way beyond their years. Keyrol Figueroa scored his first under-21 goal recently whilst Rio Ngumoha is one of the most exciting prospects Liverpool have had in years.
It doesn’t always work out with every player at the club, however. That’s the unfortunate reality of the game.
A clear-cut example of this is under-16 forward Cornelius Akaunu who has now gone on trial with Tottenham.
Akaunu scored for Liverpool on what will seemingly be his final appearance, a 4-0 win over Fulham on Sunday.
His imminent departure was announced on the @lfc.academy Instagram account.
Akaunu was signed by the club back in 2017 with a host of other under-9 players. Their contracts were signed in the presence of Reds icon Steven Gerrard, whom it had just been announced would be heading up the under-18s the following season.
Gerrard’s involvement with the club’s youth products is understandably extensive.
The two most prominent academy products currently in the side - Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones - have spoken at length about what Gerrard meant to them growing up and the way he mentored them both.
Jones has even spoken about Gerrard’s criticism of him whilst managing him for the under-18s.
Any successful Liverpool team will always have prominent involvement from academy players. If a club don’t have that then they need to reevaluate their priorities.
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