Liverpool youngster says he loved pre-season with Arne Slot but has now been loaned out

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With so many first-teamers away, this year’s pre-season for Liverpool was all about taking a look at their young players.

It was perhaps less than ideal for Arne Slot that he was unable to call upon so many of his bigger names during the summer.

However, that did mean that the new head coach was forced to throw in some of the youngsters coming through the Liverpool academy.

It’s fair to say that some stood out more than others, with midfielder Trey Nyoni impressing supporters and staff at Anfield alike.

But Nyoni was not the only one to catch the eye. Right-back Luca Stephenson was impressive in all of his appearances and has since earned himself a good loan move.

Luca Stephenson looks back on Liverpool pre-season

Stephenson was a bit of an unknown name amongst Liverpool’s tour of the USA in July. The 20-year-old had no previous first-team experience with the Reds.

We predicted that Stephenson might surprise a few people while out in the US, though, and that’s exactly what he did.

Having spent a full, successful season in League Two with Barrow in 2023/24, Stephenson looked well adjusted to the men’s game every time he played.

The former Sunderland prospect even looked unfazed by an appearance at Anfield on Sunday as he replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. Since then, Stephenson has secured a temporary move to Scotland with Dundee United.

READ MORE: All confirmed Liverpool incomings, outgoings, loans and releases for 2024/25

And speaking to The Courier after the transfer was completed, he admitted that he had eventually come to feel he was at the level needed to play for Liverpool.

“From playing in League Two last year, to coming back and playing against a full-strength Arsenal team, you do have moments when you struggle a little bit and are getting beat,” says Stephenson.

“But you learn a lot more from that than playing easy games that you dominate.

“By the end I thought that I belonged there, and I want to belong there. That’s the attitude you’ve got to have, otherwise you shouldn’t be at Liverpool.”

Does Luca Stephenson have a future at Liverpool?

If you’d have asked any Liverpool fan for their thoughts on Luca Stephenson prior to this summer, a big portion of them would likely have never heard of him.

However, that has now changed completely. The young man showed Anfield what he was all about and stood up well against every test thrown at him.

Having done well in front of Slot, we’d suggest that Stephenson is indeed very much one to watch for the future.

A lot will depend on how he gets on this year, and it might have been nice to see the academy product closer to home, perhaps in the Championship.

But as Owen Beck showed last year, Scotland can also be a good proving ground for young players. If he does well North of the border, don’t be surprised to see Stephenson back at it next pre-season for Liverpool. Good luck, Luca!