Assessing the Futures of Liverpool's Academy Players to Debut Under Jurgen Klopp
Following the debuts of Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold in recent weeks, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has handed debuts to 10 players from Liverpool's academy since his arrival at the club just over a year ago.
One of those, full-back Brad Smith, has gone on to leave the club, while two others, Ryan Kent and Danny Ward, are now out on loan for the season in the Championship.
Aside from debuts, Klopp has offered opportunities to other academy players such as Cameron Brannagan, Pedro Chirivella and Jerome Sinclair—all three of whom had their debuts under former manager Brendan Rodgers.
Sinclair left Anfield in the summer, while Brannagan and Chirivella remain at the club along with the likes of Connor Randall, Sheyi Ojo, Kevin Stewart, Joe Maguire and Tiago Ilori.
It means that there's plenty of experience in Michael Beale's under-23 side this season, especially with France international Mamadou Sakho currently exiled to the academy.
Indeed, when Liverpool's U23s lined up against Manchester City U23s recently, nine of the starting XI for Beale's side had had experience under Klopp either in competitive or pre-season fixtures.
With Klopp clearly keen to embrace the future of the club and offer opportunity to youngsters from the academy, we take a look at the nine Reds who have debuted under the German and assess whether they have a future at Anfield.
Connor Randall
1 of 9
Debut: vs. Bournemouth (League Cup—October 28, 2015)
The first to debut under Klopp was right-back Connor Randall. The Kirkby-born defender started the League Cup fourth-round tie against Bournemouth at Anfield—Klopp's first win as Reds' boss.
He went on to start five more games last season, starting successive Premier League games against Bournemouth and Newcastle United in April.
This season, chances have been harder to come by, with the only first-team involvement being as an unused substitute against Crystal Palace—that due to James Milner's injury leaving the squad short at full-back.
The 21-year-old has been a regular for Beale's U23s, playing either at right- or left-back, but with Alexander-Arnold impressing on the right and Spanish signing Juanma getting his first start on the left against FC Porto this week, Randall's opportunities there could be decreased as the season progresses.
He was linked by the Daily Mail with a loan move to Preston North End in August, and a move to the Championship side would have benefited him, but Klopp would have been reluctant to leave himself short at full-back.
Now, with Alexander-Arnold's progress and Milner's adaptation at left-back, Klopp may be more willing to allow Randall the loan move he needs in January.
Verdict: A loan is needed, but it's hard to see him making it at Liverpool long-term.
Tiago Ilori
2 of 9
Debut: vs. Exeter City (FA Cup—January 8, 2016)
Not strictly an academy player, having signed from Sporting for £4 million in 2013, Tiago Ilori finally got his Liverpool debut in the FA Cup tie against Exeter City in January.
The Portuguese centre-back started the replay at Anfield and the replay against West Ham United, too, but hasn't featured since then.
Now lining up alongside Sakho for the U23s and aged 23, it's clear Ilori needs to leave the club permanently in order to progress his career.
Liverpool were willing to allow him to leave in August, but no team matched their £4 million asking price, according to the Daily Mail's Dominic King.
Whether that price goes down in January we'll have to wait and see, but Ilori clearly has no future at Anfield.
Verdict: No future at Liverpool, likely a move to Spain or Portugal.
Kevin Stewart
3 of 9
Debut: vs. Exeter City (FA Cup—January 8, 2016)
It's been quite the transformation for Kevin Stewart in the last 12 months, going from being loaned at Swindon Town, suffering an injury that saw him return to Anfield, then being drafted into the team to play Exeter City despite not starting a competitive fixture for four months.
That Stewart played the full 90 minutes at St James Park is a credit to him and showed his work rate.
No wonder then that plenty more opportunities arrived for the full-back converted to a holding midfielder.
He went on to start 10 games last season, including six in the Premier League.
Klopp clearly liked what he saw, and although opportunities have understandably been fewer this season, with no European football at Liverpool, Stewart has six appearances to his name—albeit five as a sub.
He signed a new deal back in February and is reportedly one of several players to be handed a new contract soon.
At age 23, though, Stewart needs to consider the need for regular first-team football. It's unfortunate that short-term loan deals are no longer permitted, as he needs more than just U23 football to challenge him.
He could stay around as a good squad option for the next couple of years, but there's likely to be a time he needs to move on to play more regularly.
Verdict: Good squad option for next few years.
Sheyi Ojo
4 of 9
Debut: vs. Exeter City (FA Cup—January 8, 2016)
Sheyi Ojo, like Stewart, took his chance to impress as Klopp rotated his squad at the end of last season, making 11 appearances in total, with five as starts.
He notched five assists and two goals for the first team, providing direct wide play that the squad lacked at the time.
Klopp contemplated allowing the player to leave on loan this season, but injury in August saw that potential option scuppered. Instead, another injury has followed since returning from the one suffered in the summer.
Now back doing running work, Ojo could be back fully fit for the Christmas fixtures, when a larger squad is required. After that, the loan idea may be back on the table for January.
He's clearly an exciting player with great potential, but it will take a lot of hard work to break into the first-team plans.
Verdict: Exciting prospect, needs a loan now, more chances next season.
Ryan Kent
5 of 9
Debut: vs. Exeter City (FA Cup—January 8, 2016)
The 19-year-old winger Ryan Kent was another to be handed his debut in that FA Cup third-round tie at Exeter, but he failed to kick on like Ojo as the season progressed.
Instead, he looked frustrated at U23 level, and a loan move to Championship side Barnsley has proved to be just what he needed.
A regular for the Yorkshire side, making 15 league appearances already this season, Kent is getting the first-team football he needs.
An intelligent, direct winger, Kent has the ability to make it in the Premier League, but whether that's with Liverpool is another question. As with any young talent, he'll need some luck along the way.
His big chance will be next summer during pre-season, when he needs to show Klopp what he's learned while on a season out on loan.
Verdict: Unlikely to make the breakthrough at Liverpool long-term.
Joe Maguire
6 of 9
Debut: vs. Exeter City (FA Cup—January 8, 2016)
The final player to be given their debut at Exeter was left-back Joe Maguire, who came off the bench for the final 13 minutes.
That proved to be his only chance so far under Klopp, and it's difficult to see another arriving any time soon.
The 20-year-old is arguably behind Alexander-Arnold, Randall and Juanma for the U23s and could find his chances there limited, too.
Although, if one of those were to go out on loan in January, and if/when Sakho and Ilori leave in the transfer window, Maguire could then find plenty of U23 games at left-back or centre-back.
However, Maguire needs to be getting some first-team football soon, aged 20, and it's unlikely that chance will be for Liverpool's first team.
Verdict: No long-term future at Liverpool.
Danny Ward
7 of 9
Debut: vs. Bournemouth (Premier League—April 17, 2016)
Currently on loan at Huddersfield Town in the Championship, Danny Ward is a goalkeeper with a bright future ahead of him.
Klopp handed him is debut in the league match at Bournemouth last season and another start vs. Swansea City as the boss managed his squad ahead of big Europa League games.
A firm fixture for Chris Coleman's Wales squad, having started their opening European Championship game against Slovakia, Ward has plenty of experience despite being young for a 'keeper—he's 23 years old.
Now with Klopp's friend David Wagner at Huddersfield, where he's made 15 league appearances, keeping four clean sheets, Ward is gaining further experience in a team playing a similar style to the Liverpool manager's.
With Simon Mignolet unlikely to stick around as backup to Loris Karius beyond this season, Ward could well become second-choice 'keeper at Anfield next season, playing cup games and providing competition for Karius.
Verdict: Backup to Karius next season, a good future ahead of him.
Ovie Ejaria
8 of 9
Debut: vs. Derby County (EFL Cup—September 20, 2016)
Having been released by Arsenal in 2014, Ovie Ejaria's debut for Liverpool was quite a turnaround for the 18-year-old.
He took his chance in pre-season, doing enough to impress Klopp, and made a sub appearance vs. Derby County before getting his full debut vs. Tottenham Hotspur last month.
Technically gifted with superb footwork, Ejaria could yet prove to be one that got away for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
Like Kent and Ojo, Ejaria must work hard to make it at Liverpool long-term, but he has the huge benefit of working with Klopp at Melwood at such a young age.
Verdict: Potential squad role at Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
9 of 9
Debut: vs. Tottenham Hotspur (EFL Cup—October 25, 2016)
The most recent debutant under Klopp is perhaps the most exciting. Liverpudlian Trent Alexander-Arnold is the latest to attempt to become a regular fixture in Liverpool's first-team squad, with 17 scousers having tried to establish themselves since Steven Gerrard's debut for the Reds.
Still only 18, he has plenty of time yet to develop and learn under Klopp's tutelage.
A midfielder during his youth, Alexander-Arnold has been lining up at right-back for the U23s, and it will be interesting to see what position his future lies in.
He has all the attributes required to become a Premier League player and seemingly a good mentality, too. Liverpool fans should be patient, though, and remember he's still young and learning the game.
Verdict: Good chance of becoming a first-team player.
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