2025/26 has been a breakout campaign for Liverpool academy starlet Kieran Morrison.
The 19-year-old has been in sensational form for the U21s under Rob Page, while also making a long-awaited senior debut in October.
That Carabao Cup start against Crystal Palace has been followed up with a place on Premier League and FA Cup benches, as Arne Slot gets accustomed to Morrison‘s talents.
Got a horrible feeling Slot is going to keep Gakpo in the XI and drop Salah 😬 Who should be the front four vs Forest?
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest
Having featured in the Liverpool squad in the last two matchdays, the youngster underlined his qualities once again on Friday night, scoring twice and providing an assist as the U21s beat Nottingham Forest 3-0.
Morrison won the Premier League 2 Player of the Month for January – the first time a Liverpool player has scooped the award since a certain Curtis Jones – and as he continues to go from strength to strength, it’s about time Slot considered him as a genuine option.
Kieran Morrison is too good for the U21s
Rio Ngumoha has been seen as the best young player at Liverpool since his arrival in 2024, but it is safe to say that it is Morrison who has actually made the greater impact at youth level in that time.
His double on Friday made it 10 goals and three assists in 14 Premier League 2 appearances, and having been delivering on such a consistent level, he deserves his chance with the seniors.
Kieran Morrison playing for Liverpool Under 21s
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
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Ngumoha’s lack of minutes have shown how hard it is for young players to get game time at Liverpool under Slot, the bar is simply extremely high, but there is little point keeping Morrison in the U21s.
The Manchester-born winger is too good to be playing youth football, and he should be handed some minutes in the first-team to really aid his development.
With a loan off the table between now and the end of the season, Slot has a unique chance to get Morrison in and around the senior environment before deciding on the next steps over the summer.
Make your boldest prediction about Kieran Morrison’s Liverpool career
We'll start: He'll play more games for LFC than Rio Ngumoha…
Kieran Morrison of Liverpool battles with Crystal Palace's Borna Sosa during the Carabao Cup fourth round match at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
As Liverpool prepare to consider their options in the winger market at the end of the campaign, Morrison could yet become a genuine contender to make up the numbers in the first-team. He deserves to be given that chance.
Morrison’s set-pieces could offer a way in
Since Liverpool last played – and Morrison sat on the bench – against Brighton last Saturday, the young man has featured twice for the U21s, scoring three times and laying on one assist.
His three contributions on Friday were the mark of a player full of confidence who knows he is ready for the next step. The first was a brilliantly struck free-kick, with Morrison then delivering an inch-perfect floated cross for Noah Adekoya to volley home. Two moments which proved beyond doubt that he is this team’s main man.
His second goal of the night, although a little fortunate, was another demonstration of his set-piece prowess, as Morrison curled home direct from a corner.
As Liverpool focus on improving their set-plays, perhaps this will be the signal Slot need to get the teenager involved. For now, he is very much on the radar and performances like this will make it impossible for the Liverpool head coach to ignore Morrison much longer.
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