Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Liverpool youngster Kaide Gordon could start in the Europa League tonight.
Gordon has been seen as a big prospect at Liverpool ever since arriving from Derby County in 2021. However, the 19-year-old has struggled with injuries for a while now, failing to make an appearance in the first-team since 2022.
Nevertheless, Gordon is back fit and looks set to be in-line for some game time against Union Saint-Gilloise this evening. In quotes from the Liverpool ECHO yesterday, Klopp suggested that the teenager could get some minutes in Belgium, and also claimed that he will not be sent out on-loan in January.
“Nothing has happened already, he [Gordon] is still a fantastic player and still incredibly young and he is now, again, around the first team,” explained the Reds boss.
“We try to give him as much game-time as possible with the U21s and I, you know that, I am a believer in us needing a strong U21s. They all need to be on loan at the same time everywhere, there are different ways to develop talents. And especially after long injuries, you should not immediately think that now he is fit we can send them out.
“We have a really good group of young boys there and tomorrow [today] we will see a few of them, that is clear.”
Gordon continuing at Liverpool
Although we could see the benefit of sending Gordon out for regular game time in the New Year, we think it’s a good decision not to farm him out on-loan.
The teenager may not be quite ready for the rough and tumble environment of the lower leagues, for example.
Being out for so long, he needs to come back up to speed under the watchful eye of the Liverpool coaches.
Besides, there is still a chance that Kaide will be needed in the senior squad. His emergence in 2022 came at a time when Mohamed Salah was off on AFCON duty with Egypt.
With Mo heading off again in 2024, there may be a spot open for Gordon to exploit once again.
Of course, things are a little different this time around. Ben Doak is now the hottest young forward talent on Liverpool’s books. The 18-year-old will have an eye on this scenario himself.
Given Gordon’s period on the side lines, Doak is surely ahead of his older teammate in the manager’s thinking. But it’s also clear just how highly Jurgen rates Kaide. If he can make an impression when he’s given the chance, then you never know.
The first of those chances looks ready to present itself in Belgium today. Go and take it young man!
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