Forecasting the Future Prospects for Liverpool's Talented Teenagers
It was hardly surprising to see Jurgen Klopp rest so many of his regulars for the FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle.
With the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton to follow, plus a trip to Manchester United looming large on the horizon, the Reds manager gave youth a chance in the third-round tie.
The German named a starting XI with an average age of 21 years and 296 days—the youngest in the club's long and illustrious history.
At 17 years old, forward Ben Woodburn was nominally the baby of the team. However, fellow teenagers Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo were also in the lineup.
Per BBC Sport, Liverpool had 77 per cent of possession and fired in 28 shots against their League Two opponents at Anfield on Sunday. Crucially, though, they failed to muster a goal, with the 0-0 result adding a replay to an already crowded January schedule.
Considering the tie follows so quickly after Sunday's huge league clash with the Red Devils at Old Trafford, Klopp is likely to continue to put his faith in youth for the midweek trip to Home Park.
But while some of Liverpool's bright young things may get the chance to shine again in the near future, will they go on to make the grade at Anfield?
Here, Bleacher Report borrows a few weather terms to forecast the long-term outlook for the five teenage talents who started against Plymouth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
1 of 5
Having played in midfield for the club's junior ranks, Trent Alexander-Arnold's early taste of first-team action has come at right-back.
The 18-year-old has only played a solitary minute of Premier League football so far, coming on as a late substitute in the 3-0 win over Middlesbrough last December.
However, he has become a cup specialist, filling in on the right side of the back four to allow Nathaniel Clyne a well-deserved rest.
After two EFL Cup appearances, against Tottenham Hotspur and then Leeds United, Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes of the FA Cup stalemate with Plymouth.
Yet before Klopp selected him to play in the first team, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard picked out the teenager as a promising prospect.
"Trent has a terrific chance of making it as a top professional. He's quite leggy, but he's got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need," Gerrard wrote in his autobiography (h/t Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail).
Thanks to time spent playing further forward in youth teams, the pacy Alexander-Arnold already possesses some of the attacking qualities required of the modern-day full-back.
Long-term forecast
Clyne is established as Liverpool's first choice in the role in the first XI, and at 25, he could be a permanent fixture in the team for a long time.
That doesn't mean it's all gloomy for Alexander-Arnold, who appears to have moved ahead of Connor Randall in the pecking order.
After watching his performance against Leeds United, ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: "Sometimes you just look at a younger player and they look like an athlete. It's perfect for the full-back position, and you think he's 18 now, imagine what he'll be like in four years' time."
When you receive high praise from Carragher and Gerrard, your forecast can only be bright.
Joe Gomez
2 of 5
Signed from Charlton Athletic in June 2015, Joe Gomez didn't have to wait long to make his first-team debut for Liverpool.
The new recruit quickly impressed then-manager Brendan Rodgers, who started the defender at left-back in the 2015/16 season-opener away at Stoke City.
However, the rapid rise came to a sudden halt when Gomez suffered a cruciate ligament injury in October while away on international duty with England's under-21 team.
As if a premature end to his debut season wasn't bad enough, there was a further setback in the summer of 2016.
An Achilles problem further delayed his return, meaning Gomez's appearance against Plymouth was his first for Liverpool since a 1-1 Europa League draw with FC Sion on October 1, 2015.
"It was tough at times and there were phases when I felt like everything was against me," he told Simon Hughes of The Independent prior to his comeback.
"Now looking back at it, it was a big year for me to learn: to gain faith in myself. I am thankful that I came through it and that it's behind me."
While caution is required, considering Gomez's injury history, Jurgen Klopp will welcome the availability of a versatile player who can feature anywhere across the back four.
Long-term forecast
With Mamadou Sakho permanently stuck on the naughty step (and his only chance of freedom appearing to be a move away from Liverpool), plus Tiago Ilori heading out the exit door, centre-backs are in short supply.
Gomez could also be used at left-back, too, with midfielder James Milner currently the first choice in that role.
But with the Reds likely to qualify to play in European competition again next season, the 19-year-old's outlook is warming up after living through a seriously cold front.
Ovie Ejaria
3 of 5
Had things panned out differently, Ovie Ejaria could hsve been involved in Arsenal's tie against Preston North End at the weekend.
"I was offered a scholarship at Arsenal and I chose to turn it down," he told James Carroll of Liverpool's official website.
Instead, the Londoner opted to move further afield in 2014 to continue his footballing education. His decision looks set to be Arsenal's loss and Liverpool's gain, judging by his rapid progress.
Ejaria rose to prominence when involved with the first team last summer, including travelling to the United States for a pre-season tour that included an impressive display against Chelsea.
His competitive debut came in an EFL Cup tie away at Derby County last September. Ejaria has appeared in the Premier League since then, coming on as a late sub in the 6-1 win over Watford two months later.
Per WhoScored.com, the 19-year-old had a 92 per cent pass completion rate and attempted three shots against Plymouth before being replaced by Adam Lallana in the 75th minute.
While Jurgen Klopp has used him mainly in midfield, Ejaria can also play as a wide forward.
Long-term forecast
Cloudy. The concern for Ejaria isn't ability but opportunity.
Klopp is clearly not afraid to throw promising young players in at the deep end—yet he also has a sizeable first-team squad full of internationals to choose from, too.
"In my opinion, in this moment I can say that the best professional club in the Premier League, actually in the world, for boys like this is Liverpool FC," the German manager told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.
"We really want them in our first team. If they don’t make our first team we really want them in other Premier League or Championship clubs."
Ejaria's education at Liverpool may, potentially, end up benefiting another club in the long term.
Sheyi Ojo
4 of 5
Sheyi Ojo made his first-team bow for Liverpool in the third round of last season's FA Cup.
He came off the bench in the 2-2 draw away at Exeter City and then also made a substitute appearance in the replay at Anfield, helping the Reds advance by scoring their second goal in a 3-0 triumph.
The winger—who was signed from MK Dons at the age of 14—had initially been scheduled to spend the entire 2015/16 season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A shortage of fit bodies at the start of 2016 led to Klopp recalling the player. Ojo made the most of the opportunities that came his way on his return, recording three assists in eight Premier League games.
However, the England under-19 international's hopes of kicking on this season were held up by a back injury.
Now his return to full fitness could prove to be perfectly timed. Liverpool have a vacant spot to fill in the first XI while Sadio Mane is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Comfortable playing on either flank, Ojo's availability could spare Klopp spending millions in the January transfer window.
"[Klopp] has mentioned to me that he wants to give me an opportunity which is nice," Ojo told Daniel Matthews of the Liverpool Echo.
Long-term forecast
Blessed with pace and possessing a trick or two, Ojo offers the type of qualities that cost a pretty penny in the transfer market.
His outlook, though, still remains rather foggy.
Jurgen Klopp will need to be convinced the player can work just as hard without the ball, fitting in with his uptempo style, as well as producing on a consistent basis when in possession.
Also, here are the names and ages of Liverpool's current crop of forwards: Daniel Sturridge (27), Roberto Firmino (25), Mane (24) and Divock Origi (21). The majority of that foursome have yet to even reach the prime of their careers, so things could become frosty for Ojo as time progresses.
Ben Woodburn
5 of 5
If Jurgen Klopp intended to ease Ben Woodburn into the first-team picture, that plan went out the window when the forward found the net against Leeds United last November.
Just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the EFL Cup tie, Woodburn applied a first-time finish from Georginio Wijnaldum's square pass to double his side's lead.
He also made history, becoming the youngest scorer for the club at 17 years and 45 days (beating Michael Owen's record by 100 days no less).
"I want to congratulate him [Woodburn]. He is a very good player and has a very good future," Sadio Mane told Sky Sports after the win. "I hope he will keep going and working hard and I think he will be a great player."
Making an immediate impact isn't a guarantee of long and successful career, though.
Woodburn's goal dropped Jordan Rossiter down to third on the list of youngest scorers, per LiverpoolFC.com.
While admittedly a midfielder and not a forward, the early hope around Rossiter quickly fizzled out due to injuries. He left Liverpool less than two years after scoring against Middlesbrough in September 2014.
A Wales under-19 international, Woodburn played for 75 minutes against Plymouth. According to WhoScored.com, he had two shots but failed to score, ruining his strike rate.
Long-term forecast
A very bright start looks set to continue, although there could be some cloudy patches along the way.
Considering Woodburn won't even turn 18 until October, there is no need to rush him. He can continue to develop at the youth level with the occasional opportunity with the first team.
"The biggest thing with Ben is that he's very low-maintenance and high-output," Liverpool's former youth coach Michael Beale told Andy Hunter of the Guardian.
As a hardworking attacker with a good attitude, Woodburn should suit Klopp down to the ground.
All statistics used in the slideshow are from TransferMarkt unless otherwise stated.
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