Jurgen Klopp left behind an enviable technology of academy expertise at Liverpool, however the place will these excellent kids match into Arne Slot‘s system?
‘If you happen to’re ok, you’re sufficiently old’ was the mantra for Klopp’s Liverpool.
A technology of expertise broke into the primary staff in 2023/24, together with a dramatic Carabao Cup ultimate win that ended with six academy gamers on the pitch.
An Academy stuffed with character ?? pic.twitter.com/Hfd8a7hyxs
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 25, 2024
Now Slot is the person to impress. Having given 12,334 minutes to academy expertise at Feyenoord within the league-winning 2022/23 season, he’s actually open to working with younger blood.
So how may every of those younger stars match into Slot’s Liverpool?
• READ FIRST: Arne Slot techniques: Feyenoord system and the way Liverpool FC might arrange
Harvey Elliott
Age: 21
LFC appearances: 119
We’ll begin with a simple one.
Elliott has absolutely damaged by means of now, enjoying an important position in Liverpool’s unlikely title problem of 2023/24.
The boyhood Liverpool fan can play as a No. 8, a No. 10 or a proper winger in Slot’s system, and has proven actual high quality each in his performances and his finish product – notching 11 assists in all competitions within the season simply gone.
I solely embrace him as a reminder that, extremely, he’s nonetheless solely 21.
Position underneath Slot? The brand new head coach will love his versatility, similar to Klopp.
Jarell Quansah
Age: 21
LFC appearances: 33
Composure on the ball (mistake at Previous Trafford apart) and dominance in defensive duels noticed Quansah leap from a League One mortgage to 33 senior appearances.
By the top of the marketing campaign he’d overtaken Ibrahima Konate as the popular accomplice to Virgil van Dijk.
It’s that potential to play out that may enchantment most to Slot.
The brand new gaffer is blissful to play forwards shortly as soon as the house is on the market, however the buildup unit will see plenty of the ball at first – transferring it round to encourage stress and create house contained in the opponent’s block.
The centre-backs are additionally requested to play progressive passes forwards when the chance arises.
For all his undoubted skills, Konate will not be famend for this. Quansah could preserve his place within the beginning lineup in consequence.
Position underneath Slot? Battling to remain Van Dijk’s first-choice accomplice.
Conor Bradley
Age: 20
LFC appearances: 28
Bradley effectively and really arrived in 2023/24.
The correct-back went from Participant of the Yr at Bolton to scoring his first Anfield aim and beginning a Wembley cup ultimate (each towards Chelsea, funnily sufficient).
Given his likelihood when Trent Alexander-Arnold went out injured, the Northern Irishman was so good that the staff’s system pivoted round him.
Out went the inverted right-back and in got here the lung-busting, overlapping Bradley to press excessive up the pitch and punctuate strikes within the ultimate third.
This isn’t how Slot sometimes makes use of his full-backs. He depends on width in assault from his wingers, with full-backs extra prone to keep deeper and extra central.
It’s because, if the ball is turned over, the full-backs are nearer to their very own aim and thus extra in a position to observe again and defend the house behind them – one thing Liverpool have struggled with.
Slot could be pragmatic in pursuit of success, and he has a extremely gifted particular person to work with in Bradley.
However whether or not the system or the participant can bend to swimsuit the opposite is a query to reply in pre-season.
Position underneath Slot? Unclear, however he has proven he can emulate Alexander-Arnold’s position.
James McConnell
Age: 19
LFC appearances: 9
Each younger participant has years of teaching in Liverpool’s aggressive out-of-possession method all through the age teams.
However when Liverpool wanted to mould an academy participant right into a defensive midfielder for the primary staff in 2023/24, McConnell’s technical safety meant he obtained the decision.
Taking the ball underneath stress throughout the excessive stakes of the Carabao Cup ultimate showcased a composure and maturity past the 19-year-old’s tender years, and he later laid on an excellent help within the FA Cup.
Hull Metropolis have already expressed an curiosity in him in consequence.
Slot, in the meantime, is a serial player-improver. It’s the explanation he’s had instant success at each membership he’s managed, it’s how he succeeds on a funds, and it’s what FSG have employed him to do at Liverpool.
If he’s meant to look to the academy as a lot because the switch market, McConnell could be an incredible place to begin.
Position underneath Slot? If he stays, an choice at No. 6.
Bobby Clark
Age: 19
LFC appearances: 14
Clark not often performs the spectacular. He receives the ball effectively, he releases the ball on the proper time, and he counter-presses successfully.
Essentially the most eye-catching high quality he has demonstrated in 14 appearances is to not catch the attention.
He merely seems like he belongs within the engine room of an elite staff, regardless of being simply 19 years of age.
Slot asks his midfielders to indicate for the ball and rotate fluidly as a way to play brief, fast passes that disrupt the opposition’s defensive form.
Clark’s in-possession sport is ideal for this.
The No. 8s for Slot are additionally imagined to contribute objectives and assists greater up the pitch, in order that’s an space for Clark to enhance if he’s to kick on.
Position underneath Slot? The right candidate as one of many No. 8s.
Jayden Danns
Age: 18
LFC appearances: 5
One of the sought-after profiles in trendy soccer is the ‘nine-and-a-half’. A striker who can hyperlink play like Roberto Firmino but in addition rating objectives like Erling Haaland.
Danns’ potential to each hyperlink play and rating helped him break into the primary staff and earned comparisons with Harry Kane.
Earlier than we get too excited, although, Danns is much from the extent of a Harry Kane simply but.
He’s scored two senior Liverpool objectives, each towards Championship opposition, and continues to be constructing the bodily capability to compete on the elite degree.
There’s a cause Klopp left him on the bench when in search of a aim at Goodison Park in April.
When it comes to profile, Danns is a significant asset for Slot to inherit. Subsequent season is probably going too quickly to count on a significant contribution at Anfield – however then, many would have had mentioned the identical final summer time.
Position underneath Slot? Probabilities could also be slim, however extra expertise to come back up entrance.
Stefan Bajcetic
Age: 19
LFC appearances: 22
His 2022/23 breakout marketing campaign was so good {that a} full absence in 2023/24 hasn’t quietened the discuss round Bajcetic.
The key query has been round his place.
Breaking in as a No. 6, usurping the ageing Fabinho, Bajcetic paired his technical safety with countless operating and crunching tackles.
However his press-resistance and dribbling potential, in addition to an underrated cool in entrance of aim, counsel his greatest place is because the No. 8.
Sadly for him, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch all have comparable attacking upsides.
Bajcetic’s long-limbed type of tackling and his robustness in bodily duels make him greatest suited to a deeper position – not less than within the brief time period.
Position underneath Slot? Extra likelihood within the No. 6 position for now.
