Neil Mellor spoke in awe about Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarkson on Soccer Special (09/12/20 at 7:05 pm) after he impressed on his Champions League debut.
The 19-year-old started Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against FC Midtjylland and Mellor shared that he did ‘really well’.
Clarkson is another player that Klopp has picked from the academy to thrive on the big stage, with Billy Koumetio, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Caoimhin Kelleher and Rhys Williams also impressing in recent weeks.
During the game, Mellor shared his insight into the forward-thinking teen, who is ‘big player’ in the academy.
“Yes, he can be [a set-piece specialist],” said Mellor. “He’s 19, he is from Blackburn, he has developed really nicely at the academy at Liverpool.
“He won the Youth Cup at Liverpool a couple of years ago. He impressed in a couple of cup games last season at Aston Villa and then Shrewsbury and has been a big player for the academy and the U-23’s.
“Now that the first-team are training with the academy, it’s an opportunity for more of these players to impress the first-team manager Jurgen Klopp.
“He’s been given an opportunity to start tonight and he has done really well. He’s neat and tidy on the ball. He has that vision, he has that ability to pick out that pass.”
Liverpool’s trophies under Jurgen Klopp
- Champions League
2018/19
- UEFA Super Cup
2019
- FIFA Club World Cup
2019
- Premier League
2019/20
The likes of Jones, Williams [both the right-back and the centre-back] and Kelleher have proven that if you perform, Klopp will provide that first-team chance.
All of those players have played in the Premier League and that’s what Clarkson will target next.
There is enough inspiration in the Liverpool team, with Trent Alexander-Arnold being the main guy, to show that the rise can be pretty spectacular.
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