Who makes our list of Liverpool’s best young players to keep an eye on in the upcoming season?
Kenny Dalglish gave opportunities to plenty of young players last season including John Flanagan, Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey; culminating in Martin Kelly’s selection for England’s Euro 2012 squad. But who could cut the mustard under Brendan Rodgers?
5. Danny Wilson
One of King Kenny’s boys Wilson struggled to live up to his £2 million price tag after a move from Rangers in 2010. A full Scotland international capable of playing anywhere along the back four; Wilson is also a Scottish PFA young player of the year award winner and will feel aggrieved at not meeting his potential at Anfield. After initially impressing on loan at Blackpool he soon found himself out of their first team picture and hopes the arrival of a new manager could rejuvenate his once fledging career.
4. Jordan Ibe
Dubbed a sensation after making his debut for Wycombe Wanderers aged just 15 he then went on to score a memorable goal against Sheffield Wednesday in October 2011. Liverpool beat a host of competition for the player’s signature but Ibe doesn’t turn 17 till December so will most likely be watched from the youth team for now; although there is potential for a loan deal later in the season. He has however travelled on Liverpool’s North American tour making his senior debut for the Reds against Toronto.
3. Raheem Sterling
The Jamaican born winger has all the traits of becoming a footballing star. At 17 he is still young but that didn’t stop Dalglish handing him his Liverpool debut in March of this year against Wigan. So far he has impressed in pre-season causing a real buzz about the young man on the internet. There are considerations for a loan move but a year playing in the reserves and progressing into the first team occasionally could be just as beneficial to the former QPR player.
2. Dani Pacheco
Being an ever present in the Spanish youth teams since the age of 15 and a former pupil at Barcelona’s famed La Masia there is no doubting the boy’s talent. The attributes of great close ball control and integrated passing also make him very suitable for Brendan Rodgers footballing philosophy. He has been used in the summer and after a disappointing loan deal at Atletico Madrid went on to perform well for cross city rivals Rayo Vallecano last season.
1. Sebastian Coates
Despite the seemingly English spelling of his second name it has an altogether more Latin pronunciation and Coates is one of Uruguay’s many top young talents. Liverpool picked him up for an undisclosed fee in 2011 and he made just a handful of appearances for the first team since his transfer from Nacional. However he did impress in those appearances and with Martin Skrtel rumoured to be unsettled and Jamie Carragher’s advancing years, Coates stylish play and comfortability on the ball may suit the Brendan Rodgers blueprint perfectly.
Here is a chance to see Coates wonder goal against QPR. Never gets old, stunning.
What do you think of these youngsters and any others who might make an impact over the course of 2012-13?
image: © kong niffe
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