Five Academy Starlets Who Could Make an Impact for Liverpool This Season
As Liverpool’s pre-season gets underway, Jurgen Klopp will be looking to get an insight into the impact of the club’s new signings, as well as the potential of some of their academy starlets. With the Reds likely to contest a number of games across all competitions this season, there is an opportunity for some of the younger players to make an impression and ease the workload of their more senior colleagues. Here, we pick out five academy starlets who have the best chance of using the pre-season period to put themselves in contention for a role this term.
Ben Doak
At just 17 years of age, Ben Doak was already a firm part of the first-team squad last season. His five appearances saw him quickly win over fans with his direct running style, close control and fearlessness. With the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, competition for a place in attack has perhaps increased. However, Liverpool have big hopes for Doak and, should he progress as expected, he will surely be in contention for more minutes regardless.
Jarell Quansah
20-year-old centre-back Jarell Quansah spent half a season on loan at Bristol Rovers last term and returns to Merseyside having learned plenty. Despite a last-minute red card against Portsmouth, his manager was left in no doubt that he would take that lesson forward and make it right to the top. Quansah will hope to use pre-season to show he is ready to make the step up to first-team football this season.
Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark offered up the perfect example of using any brief time with the senior team to catch the manager’s eye during last season’s break for the World Cup. The former Newcastle academy midfielder produced a particularly eye-catching assist in victory over AC Milan that merited mention in Klopp’s post-match press engagements. Clark will hope to do the same again in the coming friendlies so that he might build on the two first-team outings he secured in 2022/23.
Marcelo Pitaluga
Marcelo Pitaluga joined Liverpool from Fluminense in 2020 and will count towards the club’s homegrown criteria for the 2024/25 season. The Brazilian had a brief taste of first-team football on loan at Macclesfield last season but was hampered by injury. He will be keen to do everything he can in the coming weeks to impress Klopp that he should be the next cab off the rank should Caoimhin Kelleher depart.
Lewis Koumas
Lewis Koumas has earned some early involvement in the senior team’s pre-season this year thanks to his goalscoring exploits at U18 level last term. The prolific teenager signed a first professional contract in January and will hope to show he can make the step up to first-team standards in the weeks ahead. Even if he is not ready to make the jump just yet, this summer will be an important opportunity to learn.
Conclusion
Liverpool have a wealth of young talent coming through their academy system and this pre-season is an ideal opportunity for them to make an impression on Jurgen Klopp. Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Marcelo Pitaluga and Lewis Koumas are all hoping to use this pre-season period to put themselves in contention for a role this term. With competition for places high, they will need to make the most of any opportunities they get in order to prove their worth and make an impact for Liverpool this season.