Liverpool will look to hand teenage prospect Kaide Gordon his senior debut in the Carabao Cup after electing against signing a forward during the summer, according to The Athletic.
Jurgen Klopp added just one senior option during the transfer window in former RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate. Yet the Reds also parted with Xherdan Shaqiri, who Goal noted Harvey Elliott had already effectively replaced, while eyes began to shift toward Gordon.
Liverpool brought in around £43m through their sales, to see the Merseyside outfit turn a profit on their overall business. But their income includes potential add-ons, while Fulham will only start paying the £12m fee for Harry Wilson next summer.
Michael Edwards’ difficulties obtaining large sums for those Klopp no longer wanted made it hard for Liverpool to spend. No club made big plays to sign Divock Origi, for example, and the Belgian may now have to step up.
Klopp will be without Roberto Firmino for a few more weeks with a hamstring injury. While Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be absent from early January while competing at the Africa Cup of Nations. So, Liverpool will now look in-house and intend to promote Gordon.
Liverpool have high hopes for Gordon, who does not turn 17 until October 5. The England U18 international has also only played one minute of first-team football in his career. Having made his senior Derby County debut shortly before moving to Anfield in January.
Klopp is likely to hand Gordon his Liverpool first-team bow in the Carabao Cup this month against Norwich. The Reds visit Carrow Road for their third-round clash, looking to better last term’s path that ended in the fourth-round. They have not won the cup since 2011/12.
Is Gordon ready for his Liverpool first-team breakthrough?
Klopp would put a lot of pressure on young shoulders if Liverpool were expecting Gordon to stand in for Salah or Mane when the pair compete at AFCON. But the German, nor the Reds, likely expect the 16-year-old prospect to offer anywhere near the same output yet.
Gordon’s debut in the EFL Cup would just be the next step in his journey toward becoming a professional footballer. And coming as a reward for his stellar form in the Reds’ academy since leaving Derby over the winter.
The Rams product has scored once in two PL2 appearances already this term, after netting against Everton. Gordon also found the net on his Liverpool U23s debut last season and has six goals plus three assists in eight U18 appearances for the Merseyside outfit.
Gordon has excited Liverpool’s youth staff with his strong start to life in Red, per Goal, too. And the teenager – who Wayne Rooney considers a ‘fantastic’ player – scored this summer in a pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.
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