Liverpool youngster Josh Abe, who has been tipped to break into the first team one day, marked his U21 debut with a crucial equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Huddersfield at the AXA Training Centre on Saturday
Josh Abe has impressed for Liverpool in preseason
Josh Abe has impressed for Liverpool in preseason(Image: Getty Images)
Highly-regarded Liverpool youngster Josh Abe celebrated his maiden outing for the U21 team by finding the net in a friendly clash with Huddersfield on Saturday.
Abe, a 16-year-old wide player, netted the equalizer with 13 minutes left on the clock to secure a 2-2 draw for Rob Page's players at the AXA Training Center.
Abe pledged his long-term commitment to the Reds earlier this summer despite attracting attention from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United, before joining the first-team squad for its recent stateside tour, where he saw action against Sunderland and Wrexham. He didn't feature in Liverpool's final game of the tour, a 4-2 loss against Leeds.
Abe made his bow for the U18 team last September and became the youngest competitor to represent the club in the UEFA Youth League, aged merely 15 in February.
He is anticipated to receive additional opportunities at the U21 level throughout this campaign.
"There’s not a club in this country who wouldn’t want Josh Abe," one of Abe's former coaches told The Athletic in February.
Abe featured during Liverpool's tour of the United States
Abe featured during Liverpool's tour of the United States(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool's U18 coach, Simon Wiles, has also had plenty to say about Abe. He told Redmen TV earlier this year: "You can see him growing with confidence and the quality that he’s got.
"He’s got a real knack for coming inside and hitting the back of the net. He’s a real talent, and it’s really exciting working with him. Josh is in a really good place."
Oliver O'Connor, the 18-year-old midfielder who recently penned his maiden professional deal with Liverpool, opened the scoring for the home side on Saturday when converting a Joe Bradshaw delivery at close quarters.
Following Huddersfield's comeback to gain a half-time advantage, Abe produced an excellent equalizer when, having collected a pass down the left channel from Josh Sonni-Lambie, he evaded one challenger and fended off another before executing an angled strike.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's U18 team defeated Swansea 4-1 in a friendly at Kirkby. Erik Farkas bagged a brace, while Ellis Hickman and La'more Lee Forrester were also among the scorers.
Andoni Iraola will be impressed by Abe's performance on Saturday, as the youngster has sent a clear message to the first-team boss.
Yet it's unclear whether Iraola will call upon Abe for Liverpool's final three preseason friendlies, as more and more first-team stars report back for duty following the World Cup.
The Reds take on Monaco at Anfield on Sunday before facing Como in back-to-back friendlies on Merseyside a week later. Liverpool's first Premier League game is against Newcastle on Sunday, August 23.