The eight academy youngsters in Liverpool’s squad to face Sparta Prague tonight, two could debut

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Liverpool look to maintain their quadruple push as they head to the Czech Republic to take on Sparta Prague this evening.

It won’t be an easy match for the Reds, with Sparta boasting an excellent home record. Once again having a number of injuries to contend with, Jurgen Klopp is going to have to shuffle his pack, too.

Perhaps the one positive of Liverpool’s constant injury woes is that it as allowed a number of young players to blossom. That may prove to be the case again tonight, as judging by the squad list released on liverpoolfc.com, Klopp’s travelling cohort is rather on the young side.

As well as all the fit senior players – including Mohamed Salah – the Reds are taking as many as eight players who have spent time in the academy over the last year or two. Some of these are by now established in the first-team. Conor Bradley, for example, is currently Liverpool’s first choice right-back.

Another with extensive experience with the senior squad is Jarell Quansah, while Bobby Clark started Saturday’s Premier League win over Nottingham Forest. From there, it does get more green behind the ears, although James McConnell is a Carabao Cup winner.

Kaide Gordon has of course spent time with the first-team and has already played a couple of times this season, while Lewis Koumas is off the mark in red, too. The only two then without a senior game to speak of are Polish duo Mateusz Musialowksi and goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek.

Liverpool looking youthful in Prague

Although these eight players are indeed very young and inexperienced, they nearly all add something interesting to the squad.

Without the Europa League this season, it’s likely that a number of them would have played even less than they have, though.

Had Liverpool been in the Champions League, you can’t imagine most of them being anywhere near the squad, injuries permitting. But between them, this group of youngsters have 10 Europa League appearances in 2023/24.

As a result, they’ll be thankful for the opportunity, even if it isn’t in Europe’s premier competition.

Tonight, that will be ramped up another notch, as the knockout stages get underway. For these youngsters, it’s going to be invaluable to be a part of.

In terms of actual time on the pitch though, we’d say that perhaps only Quansah is certain to start. With Manchester City coming to Anfield on Sunday, Klopp needs to rotate, sure. But he also needs to find the balance in the squad.

Bradley may be rested as a result, with Clark possibly more likely to get significant minutes.

McConnell is potentially next in line and may get on the pitch at some point. Then, in terms of Koumas and Gordon, it probably depends on how the game is going whether Klopp chucks them in.

Musialowski is an interesting one. We would actually like to see the 20-year-old start this one for his first ever appearance for Liverpool. Why not, you know. As for Mrozek, he won’t be out there unless something goes terribly wrong. Still, if you’re in the squad, there’s always a chance.