Andoni Iraola‘s arrival at Liverpool will herald a fresh start for several players and could provide a boost to the next wave of youngsters hoping to break into the first team.
Among the criticisms that faced Arne Slot by the end of his reign was his apparent lack of faith in academy talent.
Journalist David Lynch even reported that “academy staff were privately sharing frustration that Slot did not seem to be immersing himself in all things Liverpool, rarely paying attention to goings-on there.”
While the pressure will be on Iraola to produce results from the start, he should be more inclined to turn to youth if the opportunity arises.
The likes of Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Will Wright are at the front of the queue for the manager’s door, but Iraola should also take a look further down the academy ranks.
Josh Sonni-Lambie
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 13, 2025: Liverpool's Josh Sonni-Lambie during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Newcastle United FC Under-18's at the Liverpool Academy. Newcastle won 4-3. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 13, 2025: Liverpool's Josh Sonni-Lambie during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Newcastle United FC Under-18's at the Liverpool Academy. Newcastle won 4-3. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player Profile: Josh Sonni-Lambie
Josh Sonni-Lambie has been performing consistently well for two years now, and the young striker will take a step up in his development next season.
Despite scoring 25 goals in 45 U18 Premier League appearances, Sonni-Lambie hasn’t really made the step up to the under-21s due to the presence of Danns, Wright and Keyrol Figueroa.
However, that isn’t to say that he hasn’t deserved a chance closer to the senior squad.
Sonni-Lambie isn’t yet a physically strong athlete and still has growing to do, but he makes up for that with his footballing intelligence, able to play up front and in the No. 10 role.
Kieran Morrison
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's Kieran Morrison during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. Palace won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's Kieran Morrison during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. Palace won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Kieran Morrison has really impressed for Rob Page’s under-21s and was even named on the eight-player shortlist for the Premier League 2’s player of the year.
His performances as the captain of the youth team earned him debuts for both Liverpool and Northern Ireland this season.
As a right-sided player who loves to cut inside onto his deadly left foot, Morrison will be on the pre-season tour of the US.
He has already signed a new contract this summer that lasts until 2030. This should be followed by a loan, with strong interest from Germany as well as clubs in the Championship, *This Is Anfield*understands.
Josh Abe
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 7, 2026: Liverpool's Joshua Abe during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Everton FC Under-18's, the Mini-Mini Merseyside Derby, at Finch Farm. Everton won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 7, 2026: Liverpool's Joshua Abe during the U18 Premier League match between Liverpool FC Under-18's and Everton FC Under-18's, the Mini-Mini Merseyside Derby, at Finch Farm. Everton won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player Profile: Josh Abe
There has been a lot of talk about Josh Abe but very few supporters will have actually watched him play.
Still just 15 years old, he is among the most promising talents in his age group and possesses magic in his left boot.
Abe is set to sign a professional contract when he turns 17 years old in July 2027, with Liverpool having beaten off interest from Chelsea, Man City and Man United.
The Athletic‘s James Pearce even reported that Abe was “offered pro terms in excess of £50,000 per week from Premier League rivals” to leave Liverpool!
He will now head off on Liverpool’s US pre-season tour after officially being given the first-team squad number, No. 40.
Joe Bradshaw
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Joseph Bradshaw during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC Under-19's and PSV Eindhoven Under-19's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's Joseph Bradshaw during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC Under-19's and PSV Eindhoven Under-19's at the Liverpool Academy. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player Profile: Joe Bradshaw
With Liverpool needing attacking depth, Iraola could look to some of the club’s youngsters to provide options – at least that will be the case for pre-season.
Bradshaw was the under-18s’ standout player in the 2024/25 campaign, before going again this time around, scoring 10 goals in 10 U18 PL games.
His performance for Simon Wiles’ under-18s attracted the attention of Page, who started him four times and brought him off the bench on six occasions for the under-21s.
Boasting excellent close control, an eye for a pass and a quick burst of acceleration, Bradshaw is an attacker to watch.
Prince Cisse
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Alvin Ayman, Joseph Upton, Prince Cissé line-up before the UEFA Youth League match between Eintracht Frankfurt Under-19's and Liverpool FC Under-19's at Sportpark Dreieich. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Alvin Ayman, Joseph Upton, Prince Cissé line-up before the UEFA Youth League match between Eintracht Frankfurt Under-19's and Liverpool FC Under-19's at Sportpark Dreieich. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Player Profile: Prince Cisse
You may have heard of how Djibril Cisse’s son, Prince, has been making good progress at the academy. What you may not know, though, is how he transitioned from striker to defender.
Initially, Cisse began life at the academy as a striker, like his father, but it was as a 16-year-old that former coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson made the change.
He has since gone from strength to strength, featuring regularly alongside Lucas Clarke at centre-back for Wiles’ side.
As a result, this summer, Liverpool rewarded Cisse’s progress with his first professional deal, which is expected to run to 2029 as the maximum length possible.
Michael Laffey
Player Profile: Michael Laffey
Given the lack of senior midfielders who will be around at the beginning of pre-season due to the World Cup, Michael Laffey could be involved in the Reds’ friendlies again.
Last year, Laffey got six minutes on the pitch at Anfield as the midfielder came on against Athletic Bilbao in a friendly.
He will hope to build on that this year, having developed as a technically proficient central midfielder over the course of the last campaign.
As a local Red whose dad even owns the Glenbuck Hotel on Walton Breck Road, it would be great to see him succeed at Liverpool!
Luke Chambers
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Thursday, December 14, 2023: Liverpool's Luke Chambers during the UEFA Europa League Group E match-day 6 game between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Liverpool FC at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Union SG won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Thursday, December 14, 2023: Liverpool's Luke Chambers during the UEFA Europa League Group E match-day 6 game between Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and Liverpool FC at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Union SG won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas are set to be Liverpool’s left-back options next season, with the latter returning from a loan at AS Roma.
Tsimikas clearly has a ceiling and this could open the door to Luke Chambers or Owen Beck, two young left-backs who have also been out on loan, to challenge for the 30-year-old’s deputy spot.
Chambers has spent the last six months at Championship club Charlton, playing largely as a left wing-back after recovering from a back injury in the opening part of the campaign.
The 21-year-old has an excellent delivery and already has four Liverpool appearances to his name, which came in the 2023/24 season under Jurgen Klopp.
Ian Rush‘s nephew, Beck, is also a good player, but he is now 23 years old and still recovering from a serious hamstring injury that meant he was recalled early from his loan at Derby.
Liverpool’s Andy Robertson during the press conference at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 3, 2018. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Richard Sellers/PA Wire
Liverpool's Andy Robertson during the press conference at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 3, 2018. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Richard Sellers/PA Wire