Liverpool FC: 6 Teenagers Set to Be KOP Idols

In modern football, especially with the homegrown player and financial play rules being implemented, it is vital to have an academy system that will produce excellent first team players. When Rafa Benitez arrived, he was disheartened by the youth system structure and the ability of the club to farm players from the continent and across the Atlantic. Having helped revamp the place himself, Dalglish will be pleased with the number of high quality starlets coming through the academy system.

Though the odds are against any young performer from becoming a bona fide KOP idol, there is some class amongst the youngsters to be positive about the long term future of the club. An outlook that is lost among most modern football fans. We are talking guaranteed long term first team starters. No maybes here.  

Jack Robinson

When Fabio Aurelio pulled up with yet another frustrating injury against Arsenal in April (seriously, how good would he be without the all that time out), Kenny Dalglish had to turn to the then 17-year-old Jack Robinson. Kenny had taken on the job of manager for the second time after being involved with the youth system and was familiar with all the young talent that Liverpool had to offer. Kenny was beaming and joking a bit with the young Englishman before he came on at the Emirates, probably to calm his nerves. But I think just as likely is because he knows the bags of talent the young left back has at his disposal.

Robinson came on and performed brilliantly, especially when you are making an unexpected debut in what is usually considered one of Liverpool's bigger matches every season. He neutralized Walcott's pace and trickery and didn't really put a foot wrong during his on the pitch. The controversy at the end of that match drew attention away from the great performances that Robinson and Flanagan put in at the fullback position.

After the long summer search for a left back, Jose Enrique might prove to be the bargain of the season. Playing back up to such a classy player can only help Robinson in the long term. There are so few players that can really step into the fold at Premier League level in their teenage years. I think Robinson is just about in that class but he will benefit from more development.    

Jon Flanagan

This is a player that Liverpool supporters will be fairly familiar with already. He was given the start ahead of Kelly at right back in the first match against Sunderland, where he contributed to the flowing first half play before fading in the second. He was fantastic last season when asked to come into the first team at right back. 

Flanagan is an excellent defender and rarely finds himself out of position, though his lapse in positional awareness was at fault for the Larsson goal in the Sunderland match. These things will happen along his way to becoming Johnson's long term replacement. There is no rush to put pressure on him, as Kelly is actually a better right back at this time in his career. Young Flanagan will have to improve his play going forward and getting into positions to get balls in the box, but usually, it is the defensive skills that have to be taught to a full back. Flanagan has those in abundance. His attacking play can only improve.  

Jonjo Shelvey

When he arrived from Charlton Athletic, he was touted as one of the best young English talents. He is already the captain of the U19 England squad and has a bright future. His appearences in the Europa League last season were at a high standard for one so young. He has garnered comparisons to Steven Gerrard in the past, and I think that they are warranted. 

He most likely will be best off the front striker as a creative player. It remains to be seen if he is a player to build a team around in the future. He was a cut above in the Championship and was why Liverpool came in for him. Time will tell if that pays off. 

Suso

A real footballer from the continent, he is gifted on the ball in ways most can only dream of. A natural goal scorer, he is even a better creator. In an attacking midfield role, he can have a massive influence on a match. With a player like Spearing behind him in the future, he will have plenty of freedom to make deft touches and killer passes. 

As he develops more physically, he will be given more opportunities in the first team, as Dalglish has seen to give him a spot on already. It is exciting times at Melwood. He is just another example of the real class that is coming through the reserve system. 

Conor Coady

In my opinion, the best prospect that Liverpool have on their books. He has a wide range of skill sets that allows him to play all up the spine of a team. He is an excellent at center back, defensive midfield and can dictate play from a more advanced position. It will be up to Dalglish where he will be bled in to the side. His skill set puts him that rare breed of box to box midfielders. Kenny was right to include in his first team squad and will definitely be making some first team appearances some time during 2011-2012. 

On the intangible side, he is touted as a future Liverpool captain for demonstrating his leadership skills on so many levels. To follow in the talismanic foot steps of Steven Gerrard is a tall order, but he almost just has that look about him. Confident, driven and has a great physicality. All intangibles that will benefit him as he blossoms into a first team regular, and hopefully, a star in the EPL. 

Raheem Sterling

If Conor Coady is the best all around prospect, Sterling is the most exciting. His upside is huge. He was gifted with quick feet, pace, goal scoring ability and the knack for leaving defenders in his wake. He has been prolific as a goal scorer for the reserve side, and at just 16, was rightfully awarded a jersey number in the first team squad (along with the rest of our future KOP idols).

His dribbling skills are a joy to watch, and he can be deployed on either wing. To call him a raw talent is almost a disservice, but he just has such enormous potential that things can only get better for the young Englishman. He will most likely be a winger, cutting inside and taking on defenders. Like a lot of skillful pacy English wingers, the chance for a let down in the future is high (cough Theo Walcott cough). I really can not see that in this young lads future. He is positionally aware and has a cutting edge that Walcott lacked and still does. 

While Liverpool will always need to bring in high quality, proven players in the future to compete among Europe's elite, there is no doubt that this group of young players will form the spine of a potent attacking team with a stringent defense.