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Change is afoot at Liverpool FC this season. The curtain drew to a close on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool last season and Arne Slot has been tasked with guiding the Reds into a new era. Slot’s reign will begin this Saturday as the Reds take on English Premier League new boys, Ipswich Town.
But Ipswich might not be the only Premier League newbies on the pitch at Portman Road. If pre-season tactics, formations and a lack of transfer activity are a guide, we could see more youth among Liverpool starters Slot during the 2024/25 campaign.
The continuation of Klopp’s trust in youth
Liverpool has an exciting crop of young talent slowly emerging in the first team. The transition from youth to senior soccer began for several players last season, as Klopp handed debuts to young players on big stages.
First, Klopp fielded Liverpool’s youngest-ever European lineup in their UEFA Europa League clash against Belgian side, Union Saint Gilloise in December 2023.
Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Luke Chambers and Conor Bradley were given their first-ever taste of elite European soccer. Towering defender Jarell Quansah also made a big impact and got on the scoresheet during the 2-1 defeat.
Two months later, the young Reds were in the limelight again. Liverpool beat Southampton 3-0 at Anfield in the FA Cup fifth round, and the usual scorers of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo weren’t the saviors this time. Instead, the 18-year-old duo Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas’ produced debut goals to fire the Merseyside club into the FA Cup quarter-final.
Klopp laid the foundations for Liverpool’s young players to break into the first-team last season. But the former Reds boss was unafraid to give youth academy players their chance to shine throughout his tenure. During his nine-year spell at Anfield, Klopp handed debuts to 19 teenagers.
Following on from majorly successful players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Klopp more recently presented opportunities…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/slot-prepares-for-youthful-exuberance-in-first-liverpool-campaign/
Author : Alex Waite
Publish date : 2024-08-12 16:51:51
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