A first win at the Gtech Community Stadium should’ve been a cause for celebration for an injury-hit Liverpool. However, injuries to Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez during the game have ruined what would’ve been a perfect Saturday with Manchester City dropping points to Chelsea.
The injury list now stands at nine strong. Even promising 18-year-old Ben Doak, who would’ve been set to get a chance with Nunez and Jota absent, is out with a knee injury. Jurgen Klopp needs to find solutions from deep within his squad. These solutions then need to take inspiration from how Conor Bradley has shone since Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury.
Last Word On Football looks at the academy players who could break through as an injury-hit Liverpool look to continue to compete on all four fronts.
Liverpool Injuries Leave Club Relying On Their Academy
Liverpool Injuries: James McConnell
Curtis Jones’ injury against Brentford means Jurgen Klopp has just four senior midfielders fit. Wataru Endo is unlikely to be risked against Luton Town on February 21 as The Reds play Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final four days later. The Hatters game may be where James McConnell gets his chance.
The defensive midfielder has played five times for Liverpool this season and started their FA Cup win over Norwich City at Anfield. He has shown natural defensive instincts alongside a calmness on the ball that saw him assist the opener against The Canaries.
The 19-year-old arrived at Anfield from Sunderland at the U15 level and has gradually progressed through the age groups. Stefan Bajcetic’s fitness problems this season have allowed McConnell to be a consistent part of first-team squads. Further injuries may now give him an opportunity to impress on the pitch.
Kaide Gordon
Still just 19, Kaide Gordon has spent the 2023/24 campaign slowly rebuilding a promising career that was halted for 18 months by injury. The young winger was so highly rated at Anfield that he started an away Carabao Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal in January 2022. He also scored his first Liverpool goal in a 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town.
This season, the 19-year-old has played twice for the first team. He started a 2-1 Europa League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise before coming on in the later stages of a 4-0 win over Bournemouth. Gordon has goal contributions in his last four games for The Reds’ U21 team and looks ready for another chance at the senior level.
Injury-hit Liverpool have just Mo Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Luis Diaz fit in attack. This means Gordon will get an opportunity if either of those three are rested against Luton or pick up injuries that rule them out of the Carabao Cup Final. The ex-Derby County wonderkid is in the perfect form to take advantage of any chance.
Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark made his Liverpool debut in a 9-0 win over Bournemouth in August 2022. However, he has had to wait for a chance to impress this season. The 19-year-old did not make his first senior appearance of the campaign until a brave performance from the bench at the Emirates in January.
The England U19 international is an attacking midfielder but showed a battling nature in that win over Arsenal. Since then, he has made further appearances from the bench against Bournemouth, Fulham, Chelsea, and Burnley. The Reds rejected loan offers for Clark in January and will be glad they can turn to the talented youngster in light of their recent injury troubles.
The 19-year-old is similar in height to Harvey Elliott, meaning the two are unlikely to be used together in midfield. However, if Elliott is used on the wing, Clark may be given his first Premier League start.
The Reds are lucky they have such a talented academy to turn to despite the number of injuries picked up. Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley have become first-team regulars, and the next few weeks will decide who is next.
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