Cody Gakpo has claimed that Liverpool have a number of young players who could soon be first team stars.
Pre-season has seen the likes of Bobby Clark, Ben Doak and Jarell Quansah impress as they jostle for involvement with the senior side.
Clark and Doak were both on the scoresheet on Sunday, while Quansah made a superb late block to secure Liverpool’s clean sheet. And speaking to The Athletic this week, Gakpo suggested that all three, as well as more, have a very bright future at Anfield.
“It’s really good to have the kind of academy that brings up this level of talent,” raved the 24-year-old.
“They are still young. They have time now to develop even more. I think everyone is going to enjoy seeing a few of them playing (for the first team), whether that’s this season or the one after.”
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Gakpo looking to Liverpool youth
Having come through the ranks at PSV Eindhoven, Gakpo knows exactly what it takes to make it at a top-level academy.
Well-spoken, calm and mature, he and his experiences should be an example to the young lads around the group at the moment.,
In the likes of Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the academy players have brilliant examples even closer to home, too.
Of course, not all of them will go on to hit the heights that Gakpo, Jones and Alexander-Arnold have reached. But as Cody says, there should be very high hopes for a handful of them.
Doak and Clark in particular look well-poised to kick on a gear this season. With the Europa League offering a pathway into the team, both should have their eyes on hitting 15 or so games during 2023/24.
Stefan Bajcetic is a step or two ahead in his development, but his progress into an undisputed first-teamer shouldn’t be ignored either. James McConnell is another to have impressed when given the chance this pre-season.
With academy stars such as West Ham’s Amara Nallo also being targeted this summer, the future does look very bright indeed for Liverpool. So many prospects to keep track of throughout another season ahead.