Liverpool named their youngest ever starting XI in their FA Cup third round tie against Plymouth Argyle.
Liverpool selected the club’s youngest ever starting line-up for their FA Cup encounter against Plymouth Argyle – with an average age of 21 years and 296 days. We take a deeper look into each of the starting XI.
GK: Loris Karius (23 years old) – German goalkeeper Karius signed for the club in the summer of 2016, following a £4.7 million transfer from Mainz 05. Before long he was given both the number 1 jersey and the number one starting berth ahead of Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool team – until an error-prone December saw Mignolet reclaim the gloves.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (18) – If current first choice right-back Nathaniel Clyne ever finds himself absent, then Trent Alexander-Arnold is a more than capable replacement. Alexander-Arnold originally tasted first team action for Liverpool during the 2015-16 pre-season, as then manager Brendan Rodgers selected the athletic player for a friendly against Swindon Town.
However, it wasn’t until October 2016 that Alexander-Arnold made his competitive debut for Liverpool, which came against Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
CB: Joe Gomez (19) – After starting his career with 21 Championship appearances for Charlton Athletic, Gomez moved to Anfield for £3.5 million in 2015 and found himself deployed as first team left-back under Rodgers’ tutelage. Gomez produced a number of impressive displays before a serious knee injury on England under-21 duty halted the defender’s development.
Gomez’s start against Plymouth was his first since the injury.
CB: Lucas Leiva (29) – Fan favourite Lucas was signed in 2007 by then-boss Rafa Benitez and has made more than 300 appearances during his decade at the club. Lucas was the most experienced member of Liverpool’s youngest ever starting XI, despite still being in his twenties himself.
Whether the Brazilian’s Anfield career lasts beyond this season remains to be seen, but the midfielder’s contribution and commitment to the club will be fondly remembered.
LB: Alberto Moreno (24) – The flying left-back has lost his Premier League place in the Liverpool team to James Milner, but was afforded a start against Plymouth.
A 22-year-old Moreno was signed for £12 million by Rodgers in the summer of 2014 and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club thus far.
CM: Emre Can (22) – Another young player signed by Rodgers, Can has been one of Liverpool’s most improved players in recent years. The German international’s versatility, power and technique is a crucial aspect of Liverpool’s play under Klopp.
Before his 2014 signing at Anfield, Can had played for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
CM: Kevin Stewart (24) – Perhaps older than many think, midfielder Kevin Stewart was signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 and has made close to 20 first-team appearances for the Reds.
Despite reported interest from other clubs, Stewart is seen as an important figure for the future, even being referred to as a father figure to Liverpool’s next generation.
AM: Ovie Ejaria (19) – Aside from Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria is perhaps the most recent academy player closest to making the breakthrough to Klopp’s first team plans in 2017.
The 19-year-old was signed to the academy from Arsenal in the summer of 2014, and made his first Premier League appearance in the 6-1 demolition of Watford.
AM: Dicock Origi (21) – Belgium international Origi has found himself heavily involved in first team action this season and the 21-year-old is starting to show the kind of form that prompted Liverpool to sign the forward from French side Lille in 2014.
Origi’s pace and finishing ability has endeared himself to Klopp, who has opted to start Origi on numerous occasions over the past year – most notably in place of Daniel Sturridge, such as last season’s Europa League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund.
AM: Sheyi Ojo (19) – Having joined from MK Dons in 2011, at just 14-years of age, Ojo has been another successful graduate from Liverpool’s academy system. The winger spent the second half of the 2014-15 season on loan at Wigan Athletic, marking his professional debut in the process, and a spell last season on loan at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, making 17 appearances and scoring twice.
Ojo was recalled from Molineux in January 2016 and made his Liverpool debut the next day in an FA Cup tie against Exeter City, before making his Premier League bow later that season. To date, Ojo has made eight top-flight appearances for the Reds.
FW: Ben Woodburn (17) – After coming off the bench in a recent EFL Cup tie against Leeds United, Woodburn became, at 17 years and 45 days of age, Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer with his side’s second goal of a 2-0 victory.
Born in England, Woodburn is the current Wales Under-19 forward and has two goals to show from his three Welsh Under-19 caps. Upon being handed his Premier League debut, three days before his goal heroics against Leeds, Woodburn became the second youngest player to represent Liverpool, after Jack Robinson.
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