Jurgen Klopp says Kaide Gordon is in his mind for first-team role

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Jurgen Klopp says Kaide Gordon is ‘in [his] mind’ at Liverpool right now when it comes to first-team plans. The teenager scored his first senior goal at the weekend.

Kaide Gordon appears to have an incredibly bright future at Liverpool. That looked clear before Sunday but now, it looks near-certain.

Gordon has moved quickly through the ranks at Anfield since arriving from Derby County a year ago. Despite only turning 17 in October, we’ve seen him play on a few occasions for the first-team now – even if only in cup competitions.

The really encouraging thing is that Gordon keeps improving every time we see him, though. From finding his way at Under 18 level, to scoring on his Under 23 debut, to shining in pre-season, to holding his own in the EFL Cup.

And now he’s got his first senior goal. Gordon scored a brilliant finish against Shrewsbury Town on Sunday to level the score at 1-1. He looked wonderfully composed for such a young player, taking his time before cooly slotting home.

Jurgen Klopp says ‘that’s Kaide’, though – he expects such finishes. That’s a sign of just how good the teenager truly is and how highly Liverpool rate him.

In fact, Klopp assured everyone that Gordon is in his thoughts over a first-team role right now.

Kaide Gordon could have senior Liverpool role

“Kaide is always in our minds because he is an exceptional talent,” he told a press conference on Wednesday.

“He had a little drop in form which is completely normal for his age. He is an outstanding talent, he is always in my mind as long as he is fit. We will see where that leads.

“The Shrewsbury game helped a lot, he experienced proper adult football and he dealt with it. It’s important for his development.”

Klopp wasn’t exactly all-out with his comments, admittedly. It sounds less like we’re about to see Gordon start in the Premier League and more like it’s possible if certain things happen.

But what is clear is that Liverpool feel they have something very special here. Reports last week claimed the Reds saw Gordon as another Harvey Elliott – incredibly high praise.

If he can have anything like that kind of impact, we can expect that first-team role before long.