Top 10 Liverpool youth prospects

Alex O’Hanlon, left back/left winger/attacking midfielder, 17-years old

While it’s a different situation with the first team, Liverpool can beat Real Madrid to a highly rated player’s signature at youth level. It’s precisely what happened with young Republic of Ireland international, Alex O’Hanlon, a player who had already drawn comparison to Gareth Bale (who, in all honesty, two years ago, when O’Hanlon moved to Liverpool, wasn’t rated as highly as he is today). This lad is well-built, has good balance and pace to burn down the left flank. He was known to be a threat for goal with his constant running into the box but Liverpool coaches somewhat curbed that instinct in order to add a few more strings to his bow.

After promotion to U18s that was followed by an initial period of struggle, he learnt to play a new role – he became the most advanced of the team’s midfield trio, exhibiting a more patient side of himself that is more creative and passes the ball better, threading great passes to his teammates time after time, racking up many assists in the process. I have to admit that I am unsure of whether he will remain in this role or be used in left back/left winger positions he originally played, but whichever position he nails down as his own, Liverpool will have a gem on their hands that they will hope can be polished into a top class player.

Marc Pelosi, central midfielder, 19-years old

Listening to interviews with certain managers of modern football and paying close attention to the way they set their teams up and select players, it’s not difficult to see that versatility and tactical acumen are regarded as quite important attributes in players today. The presence of these traits usually indicates greater football intelligence in players and these players have more chances of making the grade at their clubs. One such player is Marc Pelosi, a youth international of United States of America. Signed two years ago, he gained the reputation of a utility man who did well in just about any position he was tried in.

Although a box-to-box midfielder by preference, he has also shown the capability to play at left back, left wing and behind the striker. Pelosi’s clever movement, application in pressing and defending and intelligent use of the ball saw him become a reliable platform for his teammates at U18 and then at U21 level, and draw praise from Academy director, Frank McParland. Additionally, Pelosi can break forward and chip in with goals, which is a great trait to have in a team that relies on sharing responsibilities, rather than building around one or two players who are expected to score goals on a regular basis. He is currently recovering from a broken leg sustained earlier this year and will undoubtedly come back with the same hunger to succeed and make the most out of his natural footballing instincts.

Jordan Rossiter, central midfielder, 16-years old

Liverpool fans have been hearing mentions of this name for a while, usually accompanied by a vast array of superlatives, but it usually is hard to believe the hype of any young player until you actually see what he is all about in a run of games. Let me say that this kid is a bit special. When teams line up, you won’t notice this Liverpool-born lad because his physique doesn’t really stand out of the crowd. When the ball kicks off, however, you will notice a kid with burning desire to take control of the game. Whether he does it through smart distribution of the ball or tough, crunching but well-timed tackles is irrelevant. He is ambidextrous, good passer with good control of the ball and loves to play simple passes and one-twos to orchestrate the way his sides builds attacks.

Even though he is naturally a forward-thinking central midfielder, this season he is playing as the most withdrawn of three midfielders, tasked with shielding his back line, winning possession and controlling the tempo of the game. So, it’s fair to say that his game is all about timing – timing of passes, timing of tackles, timing of forward runs, and his age that gives him plenty of time to expand his all-round ability and perhaps add more influence to the scoreline.

An unassuming character with a will to win and lead his teammates by example (sounds familiar, Liverpool fans?) even at such a tender age, Rossiter is on fast-track to the first team, having recently started in U21 side against their Manchester United counterparts, where he never looked out of place – quite the opposite. Many Liverpool fans will eagerly follow his progress and hope that he will be the one, though not the only, to take over the mantle of Liverpool’s Scouse greats.

João Carlos Teixeira, central attacking midfielder, 20yrs

Buying a player while he is seriously injured, regardless of his talent, is always a gamble. Sometimes it backfires. Sometimes it pays off. In any case, it is a testament of how highly the buying club rates the quality of such a player. João Teixiera is one from that group. A product of the renowned Sporting Lisbon academy and a Portuguese youth international, he was spotted while he was busy tearing apart the team of his Liverpool counterparts in first iteration of NextGen Series. His quality was evident: he was quick, difficult to read, constantly moving with and without the ball and was the organiser of his team’s moves because of his uncanny control, vision and liveliness.

When Liverpool decided to follow up their interest with a formal bid, his back was in a brace due to a serious injury as he had already been sidelined for at least half a year – which didn’t put Frank McParland and his colleagues off his trail. When he finally recovered, Liverpool fans were left impressed with his overall quality as he simply carried on where he left off with his previous club. Safe to say, he has outgrown the youth levels of English football and now finds himself available on loan. Big league clubs like Bologna have already been voicing their intents to borrow his services for one season at least. (Teixera has recently joined Brentford on loan)