5 Liverpool Youngsters Who Could Taste First-Team Action in 2015/16 Season

Throughout his three years as Liverpool manager, one of the things Brendan Rodgers has been praised for is the way he has given opportunities to young players.

The likes of Jerome Sinclair (pictured above), Jordon Ibe, Samed Yesil, Conor Coady, Suso, Andre Wisdom, Adam Morgan, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Brad Smith, Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams have all been handed their debuts by Rodgers.

While Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan consolidated their places in the first-team squad last season.

Alas, many of the aforementioned players were handed debuts due to necessity rather than desire on Rodgers' behalf—especially Yesil, Morgan and Sincair in the opening months of Rodgers' reign and shortly after Andy Carroll's departure left a forward-shaped hole in the squad.

Coady, Suso and Morgan have left the club, along with Jack Robinson, while Wisdom and Teixeira are arriving back at the club this summer after loans away last season.

So who will be the next youngsters to get a glimpse of first-team action in 2015/16? We take a look at five contenders.

Jordan Rossiter

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Jordan Rossiter made his debut for the club last season in the League Cup tie against Middlesbrough, scoring his first goal in a memorable match for the Liverpudlian.

He may have had further opportunities last season but suffered niggling injuries, and his season was curtailed after suffering an ankle injury in February that eventually ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

The 18-year-old will be keen to regain full fitness and look to impress Rodgers while on the club's pre-season tour of Asia and Australia later next month.

With questions over Lucas Leiva's future at Anfield, Rossiter could be one to benefit and will surely taste action in the Europa League group stages.

Danny Ward

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Liverpool look set to complete the signing of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan from Bolton, per Andy Hunter of the Guardian, but Welsh stopper Danny Ward will still be looking to make his debut in 2015/16.

Ward, 21, spent time on loan at Morecambe last season but ended the campaign on the bench for Liverpool after Brad Jones' contract situation saw him removed from the matchday squad.

Ward will feature in pre-season after consistently impressing for the Reds' under-21s.

Tiago Ilori

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Liverpool signed Tiago Ilori from Sporting Lisbon two years ago, with Rodgers hailing him and Mamadou Sakho as the future of the club's defence for the next 10 years.

"He is 6' 3", super quick, power, can jump, and he just needs to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League. He is one for the future, but he can be a really big talent," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo (via ESPNFC).

Two years after arriving, Ilori is yet to make his debut for Liverpool and has instead spent time on loan at Granada (2014) and Bordeaux (2014/15).

You might have expected Ilori to be at least fourth choice for Rodgers next season, but the extension of Kolo Toure's contract leaves him lower down the pecking order. Surely, though, he'll finally taste some action for Liverpool.

Cameron Brannagan

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An unused substitute in five games at the end of last season, midfielder Cameron Brannagan will be hoping he can make the next step and get his debut for the club in 2015/16.

The Salford-born player had a nice cameo appearance in the Steven Gerrard/Jamie Carragher All-Stars match in March and has consistently impressed for the Reds' under-21s.

A good technician who can play anywhere across midfield, Brannagan will be part of the squad for pre-season and almost certainly make his debut in the Europa League's group stages.

Harry Wilson

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Harry Wilson hit the headlines when he made his full international debut for Wales in October 2013 aged just 16—a move designed to tie him to Wales for the future.

He had an impressive season for the under-21s last season, scoring seven and assisting eight goals in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Now aged 18, Wilson will be looking to push on next season. There's a strong chance he'll be loaned out to gain first-team experience elsewhere, but either way, he'll be looking to impress when given the opportunity.