On-loan Liverpool youngster Leighton Clarkson scored a lovely goal last night, as Aberdeen suffered a late loss against Rangers.
The 21-year-old has been enjoying a productive loan spell North of the border this season. That continued on Tuesday night as he hit a delicious second-half volley to give his side a 2-1 lead.
That lead ultimately didn’t hold for the Dons, with two injury time goals from Scott Arfield breaking hearts at Pittodrie.
But still, another moment to savour for Clarkson, who’ll be hoping those at Liverpool get a glimpse of this. As seen on Sky Sports Scotland Twitter, he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area in the 53rd minute, touching it into the ground to control it. As it then loops up perfectly for him, there’s only one thought in Clarkson’s mind. Hit it.
And hit it he does, quite perfectly too. Unstoppable for Allan McGregor, as the ball curls beautifully away from him.
“Look at the first touch that he takes,” gushed the Sky Sports commentator. “It bounces perfectly for him just to hit it on the volley. Gets it well away from Allan McGregor. Great strike from Clarkson.”
Clarkson getting back on track
This is great to see from Clarkson. The young midfielder had a difficult year at Blackburn Rovers last time out, but is now finding his feet in Scotland.
For those who have seen him in detail, that won’t be a surprise. Clarkson has always been a player with excellent technique and a certain style to his play. Then Rovers boss Tony Mowbray dubbed him ‘amazing’ last year and he certainly has something about his game.
He may lack a little bit of physicality, but his time up in Scotland is sure to have been helping him with that. If he can add that to his game, he’s still got a bright future at a good level.
Jurgen Klopp is certainly a fan of his. Plucking him from the academy at eighteen, the manager has given Clarkson some decent game time at Anfield.
In much the same way Tyler Morton is benefitting from regular playing time at Blackburn this season, Clarkson was supposed to do the same last campaign.
The fact that that didn’t happen quite possibly cost him a Liverpool career. Still, keep turning in moments of brilliance like this, as he has done a few times this season, and you just never know.
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