6 young Liverpool players who could make the first team next season

At Liverpool, one academy player has become a fixture in the first team this season while a handful have shown potential – so who could follow next?

In Stefan Bajcetic, the Reds have unearthed a gem just waiting to be polished. The Serbian-born Spaniard now looks set for a long-term role under Jurgen Klopp.

Although Bajcetic’s season ended prematurely due to injury, he showed in his 19 appearances that he can be counted on next season and in the future.

Along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher, he left the academy to establish himself in the senior team.

There are also other examples such as Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams confirming the club’s focus on youth development as a source for the first team. So who could be an option for Klopp next season?

Marcelo Pitaluga

Age: 20

Position: Goalkeeper

With Kelleher securing a starting XI role and Adrian in the final weeks of his contract, this summer could see big changes to Liverpool’s goalkeeping ranks.

If Kelleher pushes for a move and Adrian’s tenure isn’t extended, John Achterberg and his team will be looking for at least one new signing to back Alisson.

However, as with the current second choice, it’s possible that Liverpool will look to their academy for one of the backup roles.

Pitaluga’s loan spell at Macclesfield was marred by an ankle ligament injury, but he has spent the season training with the first team and visiting Anfield on matchdays with the Brazilian unable to play. – be next. Harvey Davies

Age: 19

Position: Goalkeeper

However, there is a chance that Pitaluga will be passed by a scouser as Davies has progressed with the Under-21s and Under-19s throughout the season.

Davies has been a Liverpool player since U9 level, has developed rapidly in recent years and trains regularly and travels on match days like Pitaluga.

The teenager has kept seven clean sheets in 16 games and conceded just 19 goals. The U21s finished their second season with the best defensive record in the league. He has also been on the bench for the first team seven times this season.

In all likelihood, one of Pitaluga and Davies will remain at No.3 and the other will go on loan, with Alisson showing great potential.

Luke Chambers

Age: 18

Position: Left back, Central defender

Since Klopp is switching to a 3-4-3 system as part of his ‘new LFC’ – as he called it in a recent interview with LFCTV – there are new demands on the manager’s defensive line. Trent Alexander-Arnold comes into midfield at right back while Andy Robertson operates as a hybrid of left back and left centre-back.

The jury is out on Kostas Tsimikas as a backup in that role, but in Chambers the club could have the perfect fit up the ranks.

Chambers is a natural left-back, but has experience at centre-back, both with the Under-21s and on loan at Kilmarnock – and Klopp even used him there during their friendly defeat against Lyon in December.

Conor Bradley

Age: 19

Position: right back

“Our plans are to bring him back, go into preseason, enjoy the steps he’s made and then we’ll decide together what to do from there,” Klopp said of Bradley in April.

“The plans at the moment are to bring him back and keep him, but we’ll see.”

The manager has described Bradley’s loan spell at Bolton as a “victory”, and it’s no surprise why: the Northern Irishman helped his club reach the League One play-offs, scoring seven goals and six assists in 51 games in all competitions. . Whether his wild play at right-back will fit into Liverpool’s new system remains to be seen, but he may have passed Calvin Ramsay in the pecking order.

Tyler Morton

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder

Another player who has impressed on loan – albeit less brilliantly than Bradley – Morton made 46 appearances for Blackburn and assisted four goals before foot surgery ended his season prematurely.

Although he didn’t tear up the Championship like Harvey Elliott did at Ewood Park, the 20-year-old’s time away from Liverpool has shown signs of becoming a talented senior player.

Morton has already made nine first-team appearances for the Reds and in January the club showed a huge vote of confidence by handing him a new long-term contract.

It’s unclear where he fits into Klopp’s midfield rebuild but Morton has every chance of becoming an option. Ben Doak

Age: 17

Position: right winger

During this crazy season, one of the feel-good stories for Liverpool has been Doak’s emergence as a future first-team star.

His luck was partly unavoidable when Klopp made sweeping changes for November’s Carabao Cup clash with Derby, but he definitely took advantage of it.

Doak had a relentless presence down the right flank, looking unmoved both on and off the ball. Although he has yet to add his five appearances, he is still an integral part of first-team training.

There is a compelling theory that Liverpool are looking for youngsters to replace the unbeatable Mohamed Salah – with Kaide Gordon also a contender – and it wouldn’t be surprising if Doak replaced him more often next season.

Also.. 

Premier League fifth-place qualification rules if Man City win Champions League and Liverpool miss top four

Liverpool have been slow to start their run at Champions League qualification this season, but there’s still a chance they’ll make it to the prestigious European competition.

Despite a difficult season at Anfield, the Reds climbed to fifth place in the Premier League table after six consecutive wins. They are one point behind Manchester United at the moment, but their arch-rivals still have a game in hand.

Back-to-back defeats to United have given Liverpool renewed confidence, while more European slots would be available for English clubs if Manchester City and West Ham win the Champions League and Europa Conference League respectively. However, if City win, there will be no extra seats at the main table. City could be two games away from clinching the elusive European honor after drawing 1-1 with semi-final opponents and holders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. On 10 June, they or Real will face one of the Milanese clubs in the flagship Istanbul.

However, the results will have little impact on the UEFA competition in which Liverpool enter next season. According to the criteria, City will earn their way to the Champions League by winning the iconic trophy, but they have already done so due to their Premier League finish.

Whatever happens in their championship defense, Pep Guardiola and his players have secured a place in the top four this season. However, the ‘extra’ Champions League place will not be awarded to the team that fails to qualify, which is likely to be Manchester United, Newcastle United or Liverpool.

In this case, the winner of the highest national league in the UEFA category, not benefiting from such a privilege, would automatically qualify. Looking ahead to today, the Ukrainian Premier League champions would benefit, especially Shakhtar Donetsk.
Normally, five clubs from one country are allowed to participate in the Champions League.

However, for this to happen, a team must win the competition and finish outside the Premier League top 4. Liverpool therefore have only one path to the UCL next season by finishing fourth or better.