19-year-old Jake Cain moves closer to Liverpool first-team breakout

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Liverpool teenager Jake Cain moved himself closer to a first-team breakout on Saturday. The 19-year-old could be next in line.

Jake Cain must be close to his first-team breakthrough. We’ve seen him on the bench plenty this year, after all.

Cain was an unused substitute for every Champions League game up to now. He’s been there for a couple of Premier League games, too.

All he needs now is to get on the pitch with the rest of the first-team.

Saturday moved him closer to that reality. Cain shone in a 4-0 win over Arsenal, scoring twice and getting another assist.

That’s six goals and five assists in Premier League 2 this season – a fine record. And with Cain already close to getting on the pitch, this performance must move him very close.

Next in line

Last season saw Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott all get Premier League minutes. The latter did fade towards the end of the campaign, though.

Williams played quite a few games and carried that through to this season. He’s been a hit-and-miss squad player but one with plenty of potential.

Jones, of course, is a superstar in waiting. In fact, we think he’s far better than people realise.

The Scouser is having a wonderful season and establishing himself as a real first XI option. Long may that continue.

And if we had to guess who’s next, we’d say Cain. Especially as, like Jones, he’s a midfielder who can offer both goals and assists.

In a season where Liverpool struggle for goals, that will appeal to Jurgen Klopp. We see a couple of scenarios where Cain gets on the pitch, in fact.

If Liverpool continue to fall down the table, then the final games will surely see players like Cain get their shot ahead of a squad reshuffle in the summer.

Alternatively, we wonder if Klopp could take a proper look at Cain as soon as next month. Liverpool will have that game against RB Leipzig and if they wrap things up early, why not get Cain on?

All in all, there’s a lot for Liverpool fans to get excited about. More performances like this and Cain will certainly get his first-team chance. He may get it anyway.