Youngsters Take the Chance to Impress on Tour

A vast number of academy and reserve players were given the chance to impress new boss Brendan Rodgers during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US. Every single one of these youngsters saw game time in at least one of the friendlies; scheduled against Toronto in their hometown, Roma in Boston, and Tottenham Hotspur in Baltimore. The likes of 16-year-old Jordan Ibe and 17-year-old Ryan McLaughlin earned their first starts for the club in the games against Toronto and Roma respectively.

A number of senior players were also involved to guide the starlets through the experience, with old heads Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Martin Skrtel and Alberto Aquilani just a few of many senior players filling the squad. There is no doubt that their presence helped the younger players to get acclimatized to their new surroundings and a new standard of football.

The positive note from the tour is that pretty much every youngster impressed during their time on the pitch. However, naturally a few will stand out from the rest and five players stuck out and impressed more than others. The following five players can hope to push for a regular spot in the match squad this coming season.

Jack Robinson

Starting from the back, the talented left-back became the youngest player to play for the club at the age of 16 years and 250 days when he made his debut on May 9, 2010 – replacing Ryan Babel in an end of season match-up against Hull City, which was also Rafael Benitez’s final game in charge of Liverpool.

Despite not getting a look-in during the Roy Hodgson era, an injury crisis forced Kenny Dalglish to throw him in at the deep end against Arsenal at the Emirates, where he was tasked with defending speed demon Theo Walcott. Not only did he subdue the England winger, he came out of the game with plaudits from every corner for his pace and remarkable defensive awareness. He received his first start only a few days later as Liverpool thrashed Birmingham 5-0 at Anfield, widely remembered for sparking the Maxi Rodriguez end of season goal fest as he scored a hat-trick.

The 2011-2012 season was much quieter for Robinson, with his only appearances coming in the early stages of Liverpool’s ultimately successful Carling Cup run.

Injury has hindered the left-backs progress throughout his career, but after impressive showings in pre-season friendlies against Toronto and Tottenham, he can hope to push slacking defender Jose Enrique for a starting berth.

Robinson is a quick left-back with immense recovery speed. He is strong in the tackle and can mark very well. He is good technically and can take players on when bombing forward. He is one of Liverpool’s best kept secrets, and has a bright future ahead of him at the club.

Jonjo Shelvey

The man signed from Charlton towards the end of the Benitez years has seen significantly more first team action than the rest of the players on this list, but at the age of 20 he is still a relative youngster. Shelvey became Charlton’s youngest ever player when he made his debut at the age of 16 years and 59 days, and he went on to make 49 appearances for Charlton in all competitions, scoring 8 goals – all this before his 19^th birthday.

He featured prominently under Hodgson but mainly in the Europa League, where he showed flashes of talent but at times also looked vastly out of his depth. He made a number of substitute appearances in the 2010-2011 season, but never saw much actual game time.

In September 2011, he was loaned out to Blackpool to gain first team experience. This went exactly to plan as he scored on his debut and finished his loan spell with 6 goals in 10 games – three of those coming in a 5-0 demolition of Leeds United.

Shelvey was recalled to Liverpool following Lucas’s season-ending injury in late November 2011. He made 16 appearances under Dalglish throughout the 2011-2012 season, scoring against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup, and in the penultimate game of the season with a 35 yard half-volley against Chelsea in a 4-1 victory at Anfield.

During Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US Shelvey was undoubtedly the star performer, featuring prominently in all three friendlies. He showed his range of passing and passion for the game in the opening friendly against Toronto, before showing off his silky footwork and excellent technical ability against Roma – where he could have scored three times through self-made chances. Against Spurs he was once again one of the top performers, dictating the game like an experienced international at the age of 20. Joe Cole referred to him as future captain material, and he might not be wrong.

Raheem Sterling

This is the one that has the most Liverpool fans ranting and raving – and he has been doing so for the past year and a half. Since joining Liverpool from QPR for a fee of £600k that could rise to £5mil, Sterling has excited fans with his electric performances for both the U18’s and the reserves. The standout performance was a 5-goal performance against Southend in the FA Youth Cup in February 2011 (at the age of 16).

This caught the attention of then manager Dalglish, who brought the youngster to Melwood to train with the first team. Sterling made his long awaited debut for the club on March 24, 2012 against Wigan, becoming the clubs second youngest player – after the aforementioned Robinson – at the age of 17 and 107 days. He received a standing ovation from the crowd as he entered the fray but was unable to salvage a point as Liverpool succumbed to a 2-1 home defeat.

Sterling made further substitute appearances against Fulham and Chelsea before the end of the season, looking lively in both performances.

He has been heavily involved in Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US, playing a half of football in each of the three friendlies. The Kingston-born winger impressed in each performance, with Rodgers also saving words of encouragement for him after the Spurs game. He has great pace and the ability to beat a man with ease, showcased by his assist for Morgan’s equalizer against Toronto.

Liverpool fans will be hoping to see much more of this youngster throughout the season, as they know they have a potential superstar at the club.

Dani Pacheco

The curious case of Dani Pacheco… Where to start? A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he joined the Reds back in 2007. He instantly caught the attention of Liverpool fans around the world, as he ran circles around defenders at reserve level. It seemed only a matter of time before he made his debut, which eventually came as a substitute against Fiorentina on December 9, 2009. He made an immediate impact, giving Liverpool a spark and had a shot parried around the post minutes within coming on.

Most thought this would be the springboard Pacheco needed to cement his place in a first team severely lacking in attacking creativity. Unfortunately for the Spanish youth international, he only went on to make another 6 appearances for the club before being loaned out to Norwich in March 2011. He was an instant hit at Carrow Road, winning a penalty and claiming an assist on his debut. He returned to Liverpool having scored two goals in 6 appearances for Norwich.

In the summer of 2011, Atletico Madrid took Pacheco on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season, and was immediately loaned out again to Rayo Vallecano. Most believed this spelled the end of Pacheco’s Liverpool career, especially as he only managed 12 appearances and no goals during an injury hit spell at Campo de Vallecas. It wasn’t to be, as he returned to Liverpool for pre-season at the beginning of July 2012.

Naturally buoyed by comments from new manager Rodgers saying that every player would have a clean slate during pre-season, Pacheco went on to have a very productive pre-season tour of the US. During his time on the field he was by far the most threatening attacker against Toronto, taking players on and whipping in crosses throughout the first half. He again looked threatening against Roma, beating his defender on several occasions, and also getting the assist for Charlie Adam’s consolation goal. He was not involved against Spurs and one can only hope he is being rested for Liverpool’s Europa League Qualifier against FC Gomel on Thursday.

Adam Morgan

The hometown boy has delighted Liverpool fans with his performances at U18 and reserve level, with many dubbing him “the new Fowler”. Just like God himself, Morgan has a sweet left foot and a natural striker’s instinct that sees him find himself in goal-scoring positions almost by accident.

During the 2010-2011 season, Morgan scored 18 goals in 16 games for the U18’s, including scoring in 12 consecutive games to end the season. He made his debut for the reserves against Bolton on April 12, 2011, and he caused further excitement amongst fans by scoring the only goal of the game.

Throughout the 2011-2012 season Morgan played for both the U18’s and the reserves. He finished the season with 13 goals in 21 games for the U18’s and 5 goals in 17 games for the reserves.

It is little surprise that the 18-year-old was then brought on the US tour by Rodgers, especially with main strikers Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Fabio Borini and Craig Bellamy all missing the tour or joining in late. He made his first team debut as a half-time substitute against Toronto, and scored the equalizer as the game finished 1-1. He played the entire second half against Roma, getting in the face of experienced defenders Gabriel Heinze and Nicolas Burdisso in the process. He was constantly pro-active, making runs off the shoulders of the defenders while also dropping deep when the midfield needed him too. When Liverpool weren’t in possession he hassled and harried the defenders non-stop, much in the ilk of a certain Dirk Kuyt. Morgan got his first start for the club against Tottenham, making a number of runs behind the Spurs defense. He caused the likes of Kaboul and Gallas headaches throughout the half, even finding himself behind them and clear through on goal on one occasion, only to be denied by veteran keeper Brad Friedel.

It seems a bit too early for Morgan to make the jump to first team football, with at least another year of reserve team football looking necessary for his development. Needless to say, he impressed all Liverpool fans with his pre-season performances with his work-rate and predatory instincts. Hopefully it will only be a matter of time until he progresses to full first team material.