Jurgen Klopp wasn’t shy in introducing the club’s young players into the first team set up during last years pre-season and he may well do the same this time around.
The Liverpool academy has produced many a talent over the years from Michael Owen to John Flanagan to Steven Gerrard nonetheless.
Pre-season is where young hopefuls are put on stage to represent Liverpool in the hope they can edge their way into some first team action during the regular season to possibly set up their career.
Over the years, it has been harder for academy prospects to break through into the main squad with arrivals from afar pushing out the youth. However, Liverpool have always maintained their impeccable record of bringing through new, fresh talent with the 2016/17 season being no different.
Some will have been successful, other not so. Read Liverpool look at where the class of 2016 are 12 months on.
Ovie Ejaria
The London-born midfielder featured several times for Liverpool during pre-season and managed to edge his way into the senior squad from time to time.
The 19 year-old made his competitive debut in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Derby County in the League Cup in September, coming on as a late substitute. He made his full debut in the side’s 2-1 win against Tottenham in the same competition a month later.
Ejaria made his Premier League debut in Liverpool’s 6-1 thumping of Watford in November and went on to play against Middlesbrough in the league later in the year, grabbing three FA Cup appearances along the way so totaled a tally of eight appearances in all.
Although he had an inaugural taste of first team football, which included quite a few call ups to the subs bench, in order for the youngster to progress and grow he will need more game time. Pre-season could be used as a platform to advertise himself to budding Football League outfits looking for a talented nimble winger on loan.
Ryan Kent
Kent had a solid 2016 pre-season, managing to claim a handful of assists before earning a loan move to Barnsley. The 20 year-old grabbed 47 appearances in all competitions, netting three times and winning the clubs Young Player of the Year award for 2016/17.
Several Championship clubs are interested in attaining his services for next season but Liverpool have declared they are going to wait to see how well he fairs during this years’ pre-season before deciding on his future.
Ben Woodburn
The youngster had impressed Klopp during training sessions before last years’ pre-season warranting appearances for the first team’s trips to Tranmere and Fleetwood where he scored one and set up another during their 5-0 win over the latter.
Woodburn memorably became the youngest ever goalscorer for Liverpool after netting the second goal in the clubs 2-0 League Cup win over Leeds aged just 17 years and 45 days, just days after making his Premier League debut against Sunderland.
His first start in the Premier League didn’t come until April, although he started all three FA Cup games.
With nine first team games under his belt and lots of optimism around the number 58, this upcoming campaign is a big one in the Welshman’s career. Whether he will remain at Liverpool or seek first team action elsewhere, he will certainly be one to watch.
Connor Randall
Randall has been in and around the first team set up for nearly two years now but the 21 year-old staked a claim in the side during pre-season on the back of a few appearances in the league during the 2015/16 campaign. The midfielder showed spurts of creativity but has struggled to break into the first team during the regular season.
The central midfielder was given 45 minutes in Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup but that was his only appearance for the Reds. A move to a Football League club, either on loan or permanent, has got to be something highly considered by Randall if he wants more game time.
Sheyi Ojo
After a good loan spell at Wolves and a handful of first team appearances, Ojo featured briefly in pre-season before suffering a fracture in his back, sidelining him until mid-November.
The winger featured in two FA Cup games later in the season but was notably a long way off from where he was before the injury. Klopp will evaluate his role in the squad after pre-season.
Toni Gomez
He made a brief appearance in pre-season in Liverpool’s 4-0 loss to Mainz but has yet to make his senior debut.
The 19 year-old striker will hope for more playing time this summer.
Sam Hart
Hart also featured in the defeat to Mainz and hasn’t yet made his competitive debut for Liverpool.
The left-back spent some time at Port Vale last year, scoring once in 16 games, starting 12 of them, across all competitions although usually played out of position.
He too will be looking to try and force his way into Klopp’s pre-season plans.
