Liverpool’s Top 5 promising prospects
Liverpool have proved themselves the league’s over-achievers this season and, as they currently occupy second place in the table, many will be backing them to go all the way.
The most impressive aspect of the Red’s campaign has been just how well the club’s younger players have performed. Rodgers is known to have a great deal of faith in his less experienced squad members and this term his trust has certainly paid off.
The younger generation have all played vital roles in the club’s title/top-four chase this season and this is a credit to the Northern Irishman’s commitment and hard work. He has won many admirers for the way he has nurtured many of the squad’s up and coming players and helped them make marked improvements.
Rodgers believes Liverpool’s renaissance should serve to convince the best young British players that Anfield is the perfect place to boost their development and this certainly seems to be the case.
Here we take a look at the club’s best five players aged 23 and under, based on Squawka Performance Score.
Jon Flanagan and Joe Allen
5. Jon Flanagan (49)
Jon Flanagan has burst onto the scene this season, having featured 13 times in Brendan Rodgers’ back four.
Injuries to Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique and a loan spell for Andre Wisdom have given the full-back plenty of opportunity to impress and he has done just that. He has repaid Rodgers’ faith whenever he has featured and if he continues on his current trajectory he could well become the club’s new local hero.
Steven Gerrard has already likened the youngster to Anfield legend Jamie Carragher. This season he has completed 44% of his tackles and 81% of his passes, whilst having completed an average of five defensive actions per game, including 46 clearances and 21 interceptions.
4. Joe Allen (113)
Joe Allen has proven himself as a versatile midfield option for Brendan Rodgers throughout his time at Anfield.
The 23-year-old has featured just 15 times this campaign, often having filled in for an injured first team player. He was impressive when he came on for Liverpool against Swansea City and he earned a start for the victory against Southampton. He has undoubted ability, especially in terms of retaining possession but will have to add more to his game if he wishes to compete with the club’s current crop of midfield talent.
This season he has created just seven chances and is yet to score a goal. He has, however, completed 87% of his passes, 57% of his tackles and 72% of his take ons.