The Premier League opening weekend is in full swing, with some fantastic youngsters on show.
Liverpool have had a quiet transfer window so far, with the focus seemingly on a big rebuild in summer 2022.
While we have highlighted the fact that Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham are the ideal players to start this rebuild, there are a number of players in England that could put themselves in the frame with a good season.
There are series of Premier League youngsters that will have a huge season ahead of them. In fact, there are five in particular that we believe could be set to explode.
If they do, then a move to Liverpool may be lined up next year.
Here are five Premier League youngsters that we believe will have great seasons and catch Liverpool’s eye in 2021/22.
Mohammed Salisu
First on our list is Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu.
Considering that Liverpool have two elite young centre-backs in Joe Gomez and Ibou Konate, they may not be looking for another any time soon.
Yet this may be Joel Matip’s last season at the club, so a new defender could be required next summer.
Southampton’s squad is in a very bad place at the minute, but we think that Salisu is the shining light.
We have been aware of his excellent numbers since his Real Valladolid days. Every time we saw him last season, we were very impressed.
He is set to become a regular starter this year and we think that he will impress again.
Michael Olise
Michael Olise for £8m could prove to be one of the signings of the summer. He is one of a number of exciting Crystal Palace additions.
It will be a few weeks before we see him in Premier League action as he is recovering from a back injury.
Olise was phenomenal for Reading in the Championship last season. For context, he beat Harvey Elliott to the division’s young player of the year award.
If he has another season like he did last campaign, the big boys will be queuing up to sign him.
Liverpool were probably right to wait and see if he could do it in the top tier before bringing him in, but if he proves himself then we could see links appearing in the next few months.
Alexis Mac Allister
Not many will be tipping Alexis Mac Allister for big things this season after his disappointing campaign in 2020/21.
He scored just one goal and got one assist in 21 league games in his first full season at Brighton.
Yet we think that he is capable of much better. His underlying numbers, as well as his early days in the Argentine top tier, suggest that he is.
His defensive numbers were also brilliant for an attacking-midfielder at Brighton, which will have impressed Liverpool’s number-crunchers.
If he manages to go on a run of goals and assists during the year, which we think he can, then neutrals will start to take notice.
Ismaila Sarr
Liverpool fans will be well aware of Ismaila Sarr.
He was the man that ended the Reds’ invincible hopes in 2019/20, which encouraged the club to try and sign him last summer.
Sarr lit the place up on his return to the Premier League as he starred for Watford against Aston Villa yesterday. More performances like this will see him earn a huge move next summer.
He is going to succeed Sadio Mane as the star of Senegalese football, so he could well succeed him at Anfield too.
The interest is there, that’s for sure, so all Sarr has to do is show everyone why it exists by having an outstanding season.
James Maddison
Our final shout is something of a rogue one. James Maddison has been around for a few years.
He seems to split the opinion of many football fans, but we think that he is a top, top player.
His creativity is simply outstanding, although he does suffer from inconsistency.
Injuries have been his biggest issue. If he manages to play the majority of games this season, we think that he will be up there in the player of the year conversation.
While he is a natural No 10, he has shown a willingness to work hard in a No 8 role. This could be exactly what Liverpool need as they look to evolve.
He is homegrown too, which will increase the Reds’ chances of moving for him.
Simply put, if Maddison puts together a run that we think he is capable of, he will be in line for a huge, mega-money move next summer, much like Jack Grealish has done this year.
It is time for him to prove himself.