Liverpool’s season may be in danger of falling apart, but they at least look well placed to kick on in the years to come.
Obviously, a lot of where Liverpool go from here will depend on who replaces Jurgen Klopp as manager. But regardless of who its is, the Reds have a squad that’s ready to compete.
Liverpool’s first-team is packed full of talent, with a number of players perfectly primed to get even better in the near future. It’s an exciting group to work with.
But beyond those already in Klopp’s senior group, there are a clutch of young stars who are knocking at the door to break in.
We’ve already seen the likes of Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah truly become Liverpool players this season. And according to U21s coach Barry Lewtas, there’s another ‘phenomenal’ talent on the way.
Lewtas hails Kaide Gordon performance
Rewind two years, and it wasn’t Bradley or Quansah who were the next great hopes of the academy. It was 17-year-old Kaide Gordon.
Having broken into Klopp’s team and even scored his first senior goal, Gordon seemed poised to have a big impact over the present and future.
Since then, injuries have dampened most of the excitement over the former Derby County starlet. Gordon missed the whole of last season and a chunk of this one, too. But after returning to play some part for the first-team, the teenager has once again been shining for the academy.
18-year-old Jayden Danns may have stolen the show against Manchester United’s U21s on Friday night, but Gordon also got on the scoresheet. And in quotes from The Daily Mail after the game, Lewtas hailed what he’d seen from the winger.
“He promised me a hat-trick but I’ll take the one goal!” said the coach. “His performances have been really good. We do our bit, they do their bit (the first team), the proof is in the pudding and both clubs get players in the first team. To be fair, Kaide has been a real goal threat for us. This was it all (coming) together.
“His work rate was phenomenal, when we fixed a few things at half time he took it on board. His ability to carry the ball, good passes, good finishes, good decisions. It was his best performance for us by far, a real match winner.”
Don’t forget about Kaide Gordon
As Liverpool ponder who could be their long-term successor to Mohamed Salah, Gordon should not be forgotten about.
Before his injury issues the 19-year-old seemed certain to have a future with the Reds. Obviously his progress has stalled somewhat but it’s obvious that he’s getting back to the player he was before.
With Liverpool’s forward line currently struggling to look threatening, maybe Klopp will turn to Gordon in the coming games.
Certainly, if the Reds bow out of Europe and take further blows in the Premier League, he may decide to blood some youngsters in his final games as manager. In that scenario, Gordon should be first in line.