‘Fantastic’ youngster looks unlikely to play for Liverpool again this season

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With Liverpool dropping to the Europa League this season, we’ve already seen a raft of youngsters turn out for the first-team.

Some of those have done better than others. Jarell Quansah for example has been a revelation in defence, while the likes of midfielder James McConnell have impressed, too.

Others have struggled slightly, signalling that they may not yet be ready to make the step up.

Unfortunately, you’d have to accept that Luke Chambers falls into that category. The 19-year-old is very highly rated and was even targeted by Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

Injury to Andy Robertson led to Chambers getting his chance, with two starts arriving in the Europa League. Two further cameos have also come the left-back’s way, but he’s looked a little short of where Liverpool need him to be.

Ordinarily, that would be fine. But a collar-bone break for Kostas Tsimikas has left the Reds without their two senior left-backs. This could have presented an opportunity for Chambers to make a further mark on the squad. Perhaps lacking a little faith in the teenager though, Jurgen Klopp has opted to bring back Owen Beck from a season-long loan at Dundee.

Beck gets the nod from Klopp

In fairness, this looks like a good decision from Liverpool. Not only is Beck two years older than Chambers, but he’s also been playing very well up in Scotland.

As a result, the 21-year-old will have momentum and confidence when returning to Anfield.

There have been claims that with Klopp protecting Joe Gomez, Beck is in-line to start Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Arsenal.

That’s a big vote of confidence in the Welshman, who must be pinching himself.

However, it is also an indication that Chambers has fallen down the pecking order. With Robertson and Tsimikas both out for a little while longer still, Beck feels like the new back-up to Gomez.

There is of course a chance that the full-back does a ‘Nat Phillips’. Big Nat famously returned from a loan spell at Stuttgart in 2020 to play an FA Cup tie against Everton, only to head back out again.

In that scenario, we may yet see Chambers again this season. But more likely is that Beck stays at Anfield and picks up any minutes that might have been afforded to his younger teammate.

This doesn’t have to be the end for Chambers at Liverpool. He was described as ‘fantastic’ earlier in the season by Joe Cole. But having failed to fully grasp his chance, he should be kicking himself.