17-year-old sensation might be Liverpool’s future No.7

As foolish as it’s to say, the load of a jersey can weigh a participant down simply as a lot as a price ticket, with these of a Liverpool persuasion not exempt from putting significance on shirt numbers.

Steven Gerrard might have immortalised the quantity eight within the twenty first Century, however it’s the quantity seven that continues to be the jersey at Anfield, having been handed down by so many greats on Merseyside.

From the late nice Kevin Keegan, to ‘King Kenny’ Dalglish to even Luis Suarez, among the membership’s brightest skills have shone whereas sporting the quantity seven.

It is quite a bit for its present incumbent, Florian Wirtz, to dwell as much as, with the £116m German having struggled to get going as but for the Reds.

How Wirtz compares to latest Liverpool quantity 7’s

For some, a shirt quantity is an irrelevance, when a jersey has been worn by so many legends of the previous, it does present a way of duty for many who comply with.

REUTERS/Phil Noble

In Wirtz’s case, the exorbitant price ticket has maybe been the larger persist with beat him with, the 23-year-old having scored and assisted simply eight Premier League targets in his debut marketing campaign on the membership.

That’s nicely beneath the lofty requirements he beforehand set within the Bundesliga again at Bayer Leverkusen, whereas additionally nicely beneath the file of the person he inherited the quantity seven from, within the type of Luis Diaz.

The Colombian is arguably appreciated extra now that he is left than he was when truly at Anfield, though his efficiency within the 2024/25 title win, specifically, speaks for itself, having scored and assisted 18 targets that 12 months.

Diaz, now at Bayern Munich, had solely taken the jersey himself in 2023, following the exit of cult hero, James Milner, the long-serving midfielder having been Liverpool’s Mr Constant in a variety of roles.

Milner wasn’t precisely essentially the most glamorous identify to have been given the honour, but he was an integral a part of the membership’s rise below Jurgen Klopp, even filling in at left-back for a spell in these early years.

Not even the Englishman may come near the genius of Suarez, nevertheless, the Uruguayan actually the cream of the crop by way of modern-day Liverpool quantity sevens.

Wirtz nonetheless has large sneakers to fill in that sense, though if he continues to underwhelm, the Reds might have the proper successor already lined up.

Liverpool sensation could possibly be a future quantity 7 at Anfield

Wirtz’s type is a key speaking level once more heading into this prolonged worldwide break, with membership legend Jamie Carragher suggesting following the slim win over Bournemouth that the playmaker should not be within the group on present type.

Andoni Iraola has endured with him to this point, but a return of only one help from 5 Premier League begins this season would not make for excellent studying, not least contemplating he has now had a 12 months to mattress in in English soccer.

There’s additionally the problem of Liverpool not precisely having a standout substitute in that quantity ten function, significantly having despatched Harvey Elliott out on mortgage once more, leaving Iraola gentle on choices in that division.

Maybe, ought to Wirtz’s woes proceed, it might power Iraola’s finish to look to the academy ranks once more, having already handed minutes to the likes of Trey Nyoni, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas in latest weeks.

The hope will likely be for somebody like Erik Farkas to be the subsequent off the conveyor belt earlier than too lengthy, the 17-year-old having solely lately penned skilled phrases on Merseyside final week.

Born in Hungary, the playmaker represents England at youth stage and has been tipped to be an actual celebrity by these within the know, lauded by journalist Bence Bocsak as “one of the distinctive profiles in English soccer“.

{The teenager} appears to be like equally as snug as a quantity eight or as a quantity ten, suggesting that he could possibly be a direct risk to Wirtz earlier than too lengthy.

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Certainly, Farkas has actually loved a effective begin to the brand new marketing campaign, scoring in every of the final three U18 Premier League video games, alongside registering an extra help.

These final two outings, which got here towards Burnley and Derby, got here with the teen working in that extra superior midfield berth, showcasing why Bocsak believes he’s “an excellent No.10 profile”.

That’s by way of place quite than shirt quantity, after all, with Farkas the type of standout, technical expertise who actually could possibly be a future star of the primary group, nearly “like an archetypal Spanish midfielder” with the best way through which he floats across the pitch, within the view of Bocsak.

He nonetheless must make that step as much as the U21s, though his file within the U18s does make for sturdy studying, scoring and aiding 11 targets in 23 recorded video games at that age group, as per Transfermarkt.

He is a delight to look at, so usually seen receiving the ball on the half-turn earlier than driving on the opposition at will, whereas boasting the presence of thoughts and the composure to pick these forward of him.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Whereas nonetheless solely 17, Farkas – who wore the quantity seven from time to time within the youth ranks final time period – is undoubtedly one to control. Wirtz higher be careful.