Liverpool’s outcomes on the pitch this season have left little to be admired – that is regardless of exceptional outcomes together with the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth, 7-1 dismantling of Rangers and unbelievable 7-0 mauling of heated rivals Manchester United – however the wealthy crop of expertise at youth stage has been the shining mild.
It is spectacular that, regardless of such sensational outcomes, many Reds supporters would in all probability attribute the season’s defining success to the rise of 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
Candidly, the emphatic and singular moments of rapture masquerade over the woes of the 12 months with a clear quilt; Liverpool languish in sixth within the Premier League after 27 matches, seven factors behind fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur and out of all cup competitions after gleaning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup final time period, falling within the Champions League ultimate to Actual Madrid.
Supervisor Jurgen Klopp definitely has his work minimize out to get Liverpool again on its pedestal, however with the consolation of a thriving youth academy underlying the exploits of the senior workforce, dynamic defender Calum Scanlon could possibly be the subsequent to observe in Bajcetic’s footsteps.
Who’s Calum Scanlon?
Scanlon was signed for Liverpool for £500,000 from Birmingham Metropolis in 2021, arriving with excessive expecations and to date impressing as he pushes for a spot in Klopp’s reckoning over the subsequent few years.
Signing his first skilled contract with the Reds final March, the ‘thrilling’ – as dubbed by the membership web site – full-back has now solid 26 appearances for the U18 outfit, scoring one purpose and offering two assists, additionally breaking into the U21 workforce this season and performing in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League 2.
Hailed as “calm and inventive” by reporter Caoimhe O’Neill, Scanlon possesses the instruments demanded for achievement as a marauding full-back beneath Klopp’s wing, and whereas established phenom Andy Robertson won’t be uprooted from his place any time quickly, Scanlon might function the right understudy and even perhaps take the place of Kostas Tsimikas, who has been a largely peripheral determine.
The Greek Tsimikas signed for Liverpool for roughly £12m in 2020 and has now solid 55 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, supplying a powerful 12 assists and notably successful the FA Cup and Carabao Cup final season.
This season, the £50k-per-week full-back has clinched 4 assists within the Premier League, however solely began on six events, and he might look to forge a switch within the coming seasons ought to play time fail to enhance.
Ought to this happen, Liverpool needn’t scour the marketplace for a recent face, fairly present a platform for Scanlon to take his place and function Robertson’s understudy, with the ‘artistic’ prowess to his sport leaving him in good standing to thrive.
