Arne Slot has been facing constant criticism from Liverpool supporters for not making enough use of the club’s academy system.
Reds fans had become used to seeing Jurgen Klopp promote young players from the youth set-up and have been alarmed at a perceived lack of willingness to do the same from his successor.
Part of the reason for supporters’ frustration is that the Liverpool academy has arguably never been in better health, certainly in more recent times.
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Curtis Jones lines up ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan at San Siro (Getty Images/Photo Agency).
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The club are producing players who deserve to be in and around the first-team a little more, with Slot so far failing in his remit to integrate them properly. Thankfully, the head coach has been doing slightly better in this regard recently, having invited several youngsters to train more regularly with the first-team.
One of those who has been spotted at the AXA Training Centre has been Kieran Morrison, who made his senior debut during October’s Carabao Cup defeat against Crystal Palace. Although he perhaps could have taken his chance with a little more aplomb, Morrison will be knocking more loudly on Slot’s door after scoring a hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday.
Kieran Morrison stands out for Liverpool U21s
While Liverpool were struggling to find the net against Burnley on Saturday, the U21s were busy blowing Arsenal away in the Premier League 2.
The Young Reds eventually scored seven without reply on a memorable day in Kirkby, with Morrison the star of the show.
Borna Sosa of Crystal Palace and Kieran Morrison of Liverpool F.C. battle for a ball during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield.
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The 19-year-old scored three times and provided one assist as he sent out a statement to Slot and the senior Liverpool coaching staff.
Although the level is incomparable to men’s football, Morrison has marked himself out as being too good for the underage sides.
Training with the first-team Liverpool squad has obviously been brilliant for the youngster’s development and if he can continue showing such clinical form during sessions, he will become impossible for Slot to ignore.
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Arne Slot reacts during Liverpool's Premier League match against Burnley at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Oli Scarf/AFP)
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Will Morrison get another first-team chance?
Given his stance on playing academy youngsters since his arrival in 2024, many will not be expecting to see Morrison in the Liverpool first-team again any time soon.
However, one thing potentially working in his favour is that the teenager has echoes of Florian Wirtz about his game.
Although he tends to operate as a left-footed right winger in a Mohamed Salah mould for the academy, Morrison is a ‘creative’ force who could also stand in for Wirtz.
Clearly, there is a gap in quality between the two players, but with Liverpool now working out how to fit Wirtz into their system, it could pay off to have a like-minded player in reserve.
With Liverpool still struggling to show their best form this season, it would be a surprise if Morrison is given meaningful minutes within that. But he is becoming more difficult for Slot to ignore, and that is a start at the very least.
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