Liverpool engaged in a perpetual conflict with Manchester United for the crown as England’s most successful and brilliant outfit.
The past decade has seen the pendulum swing towards Anfield, but Jurgen KloppHis shock decision to step down as manager at the end of the 2023/24 campaign has caused widespread fear on Merseyside.
Was this the end of the golden days? Would the Reds emulate their rivals in Manchester by capitulating after years of prosperity and dominance at the summit of English and European football? It was a palpable fear, sure, but FSG they are sharp and intelligent and seem to have set Liverpool up for an exciting new era.
Arne slot machine he has inherited a huge amount of talent in the first team, but he also has a lot of young potential hoping to break into the team and become the next Steven Gerrard, the next Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It is important that the Anfield squad do not lose track of some of these high-profile hopefuls, lest a repeat of Anthony Gordon situation arises.
When Liverpool lost Anthony Gordon
In the summer, Newcastle United were trying to make peace with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, which they risked breaching, and largely appeared to be looking down the barrel of a gun.
Liverpool were interested in Gordon, who was once a member of the club during its prime before moving to Everton. It looked like it could happen, and Liverpool would bring one of their own back home, but for the Toon they discovered an alternative, less damaging means of getting the green light.
Richard Hughes and Co still like them, but Gordon is not going anywhere anytime soon after penning a new long-term deal with the Tyneside club in October.
It all could have been avoided if more faith had been placed in Gordon’s fledgling abilities long ago. The 23-year-old may have wanted to be involved in a move to his boyhood club, but it is disappointing that he was allowed to leave and join rivals Everton.
Gordon did 78 screens for the candies before newcastle completed a £45m takeover in January 2023. The reward could have been lucrative, either in the market or on the field. Liverpool need to ensure the current crop are kept on the books for the foreseeable, giving them the chance to showcase their quality.
Liverpool’s most exciting youngsters
“Klopp’s children”. The notable academy stars came into their own last season, bridging the cracks during an injury crisis at Liverpool and belying the whole dilemma by helping the seniors lift the Carabao Cup and push for further honours.
While there has been something of a clean-up since Slott arrived, Liverpool still boast a myriad of exciting options: with Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and others looking to emulate last season’s success stories of Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah, and two regular names in the matchday squad. .
Of course, several stars have already made their mark at first-team level without yet cementing their place. Ben Freethe 19 is currently on loan, while the 18-year-old Jayden dance he has not played for the first team this term due to injury, but the duo could become a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
In The Pipeline
The Football FanCast In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the best young players in world football.
His own slot, Alexander Isak & Anthony Gordon
Gordon is one of Newcastle’s attacking superstars, but he probably doesn’t have the same stock as Alexander Isaacwho has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top strikers in recent years.
Liverpool could do with a centre-forward of Isak’s caliber. Darwin Nunez is a valuable player, but lacks a clinical edge to go along with his athletic and tenacious style.
Isak showed the Reds exactly what they were missing last week with his thunderous strike at St James’ Park and has he has now scored five goals and provided two assists in his last seven matches in the top flight. Simply put, he would be the perfect focal point at the front of the ship for Slot’s side, but in the up-and-coming Danns, the Dutch coach may find he has his own version.
Danns emphatically announced himself last season, scoring a goal against Southampton as Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals last season, indeed playing at the heart of an injury crisis.
Antonio Mango talent scout he even praised the teenager’s “unplayed” attacking performance against the Saints, with his ease and elegance with the ball certainly showing a skill set for the cause at the highest level.
Like Isak, the Reds youngster is a natural finisher. The Swedish international has scored 27 Premier League goals since the start of last season while missed just 27 chances in the same period.
Nunez, by contrast, has only scored 13 goals in the top flight since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, although he has rather impressive missed 30 big chances.
Danns has that innate feel and could be a real threat if partnered with Doak, whose pace and power and creative spark would link with the centre-forward and give Liverpool a partnership for the ages.
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Championship Stats 24/25 – Anthony Gordon vs Ben Doak |
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|---|---|---|
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Match Stats (per 90) |
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|
Goals scored |
0.24 |
0.09 |
|
It helps |
0.08 |
0.44 |
|
Actions creating shots |
4.24 |
5.42 |
|
Completion of pass |
70% |
77.8% |
|
Progressive passes |
2.45 |
2.93 |
|
Progressive transfers |
4.08 |
8.09 |
|
Successful withdrawals |
1.47 |
2.67 |
|
Ball recovery |
3.67 |
3.38 |
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Statistics via FBref |
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As you can see, it’s not like Doak isn’t laying the foundations for an incredible career during his time at Middlesbrough, basically outshining Gordon, a renowned Premier League dribbler and playmaking ace.
Can Liverpool find themselves able to bypass the frustrating and aggravating details that come with Gordon’s return to Merseyside from St James’ Park and instead release Doak in his place?
And could Slot relieve his team of Nunez at some point in the not-too-distant future and trust Danns to bring home the bacon? Maybe he could.
Combined, the two talents could prove to be a formidable duo, every bit as threatening as the Magpies.
