Liverpool have snapped up a number of exciting teenagers in recent seasons. The Reds have been steadily building the team of tomorrow, stocking the academy with wonderkids. Some are out on loan. Speaking ahead of his second spell with Preston North End, Sepp van den Berg has said he wants to play centre back.
Liverpool teenage talents
Hot on the heels of winning the Champions League in 2019 Liverpool signed Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott.
The duo were two of the most exciting youngsters in Europe at the time.
Since then Marcelo Pitaluga, Mateusz Musialowski and Melkamu Frauendorf have arrived.
More recently Kaide Gordon joined in January from Derby County.
It’s safe to say the future is looking bright given the talent currently on display at the academy.
Sepp van den Berg wants to play centre back
When the Reds signed Sepp from PEC Zwolle he was starring in the Dutch top flight as a centre back, he was even named in the heart of the defence in the division’s team of the week at just 16-years-old.
Since then he’s played in the middle of the back four in the Reds’ academy.
However, during his loan spell at Preston North End last season he was deployed as a right back. Ahead of rejoining the Championship side he has told Lancs Live:
“In my head, I have my own ideas that I want to play centre-back. But I just have to show the gaffer what I can do there: show that he can trust me and that’s the main focus for me this pre-season – to show him that I can play centre-back.
“For me, it’s my main focus. I just want to play as much as I can, improve and show everyone what I can do and that’s it.”
What RTK has to say
It is in everybody’s interest that the Dutchman starts in the middle for Preston next season.
Sepp van den Berg is an elite centre back in the making, he can’t spend these valuable years as a right back.
Hopefully he gets the vital experience he needs this season coming.
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