LFC: Swansea vs Liverpool - Match Preview

"Make Or Break Fixture in South-West Wales"

Ten league matches remain in a campaign not too dissimilar to the previous one. Make it thirteen matches in all, with two trips to Wembley and an FA Cup winners medal to show for and the season will conclude on a relatively high note. This coming a mere two or three months succeeding the 'Rodgers Out' campaign started by a minority of disgruntled Kopites on the manager's back. (I wonder where these select few find themselves in the present day, however).

No, I reckon we are a more stable team than last season, especially where our defence is concerned. The clean sheets seem to be increasing, as the climax to a thrilling battle for European places looms in the distance. Firstly, the reds travel to Wales to take on the Swans in next week's Monday night football.

Important Information and Statistics

Date: Monday, 16th March                                               Swansea League Position: 9th

Time: 8:00 pm, UK Time                                                  Liverpool League Position: 5th

Venue: The Liberty Stadium                                             Swansea Current Form: WDLWWL

Referee: Roger East                                                         Liverpool Current Form: WDWWWW

Is it on TV?: Yes, Sky Sports 1 HD

Season Defining Match-Week

Each one of us could feel guilty of calling every league match a 'season defining fixture', however this time around, if we take a look at the proximity of the top seven teams, a long with some of the key 'top of the table' fixtures being played this weekend, Brendan could well be looking at third place as an opportunity to qualify for Europe automatically and avoid the infuriating play-offs. (May be even second, if other games go our way).

                                                     Points                                  Game Week 29:

2nd - Manchester City                    58                                  Arsenal vs West Ham

3rd - Arsenal                                  54                                 Chelsea vs Southampton

4th - Man United                            53                                   Burnley vs Man. City

5th - Liverpool                               51                                Man. United vs Tottenham

6th - Tottenham                             50                                     Swansea vs Liverpool

7th - Southampton                         49

Yes, at least two of the reds' battlers at the top WILL drop points this game-week, and I could bet that the majority of the bookies will have the resurgent Liverpool as favourites to land third spot at the moment.

Will the "Mini-Break" Help or Hinder Liverpool?

A one week break between matches seems the norm for the majority of football clubs across the country. Not if you are Liverpool, who have not enjoyed that privilege for an entire two months. Whether it was the Capital One Cup, FA Cup, or Europa League to battle for, the reds have been kept extremely busy mid-week, and it definitely took it's toll last Sunday against Blackburn.

With Liverpool as dominant as they are at the moment, will the break interrupt their progress and halt a team whom are in high spirits and will no doubt be eager to get a ball rolling as soon as possible? I personally reckon Rodgers' men need the break. Whilst it does not look like it is fazing the players, a lack of crucial rest time may lead to serious injuries, and that is the last thing on Brendan's mind as we enter a pivotal set of fixtures. This being a European week will also come to Liverpool's aid, as City and Arsenal both vie for an unlikely spot in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League.

Captain Fantastic Returns, but Will He Retain His Position?

Roll back a couple of years, and an injury sustained by Steven Gerrard would spell utter disaster for the Anfield club. Now though, Brendan's men look a rejuvenated team without our sidelined iconic figure. Jordan Henderson is blossoming as our current captain and main man in the centre of midfield, and our overall flow with and without the ball seems to have improved since. Here is a stat for you;

Liverpool have won every single league game without Steven Gerrard this season. (A stat that does not bode well for the returning skipper).

I can agree with the fact that Stevie has carried this football club through thick and thin, and has stuck with his beloved Liverpool even when mammoth-sized offers came flurrying his way. I do not know where we would be without Stevie G. BUT.... the skipper is reaching his mid-30's and I reckon Brendan SHOULD stick with his high-fliers for the time being, thus allowing Stevie to fight for his place from the bench. Does this mean Henderson acquires the armband permanently? Maybe. One thing is certain, if Liverpool are to make it to the FA Cup final, there is ONLY ONE man who will be leading his team out on his 35th birthday, and that is our captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard.

Team News - Four Reds To Return From the Sidelines?

Where injuries are concerned, Rodgers can seem relatively content. Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard both return from the sidelines after a couple of weeks out, whilst Mamadou Sakho played 45 minutes in a recent Under 21 fixture against Everton after being sidelined since our defeat to Besiktas last month. Martin Skrtel suffered a worrying knock against Blackburn on Sunday, however he is deemed fit and ready to be involved on Monday, as Rodgers hailed the Slovakian for his willingness to carry on despite being stretchered off with a neck brace.

On the other hand, Swansea look a hampered team on the injury front, with key players Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis both looking unlikely to feature on Monday. This may come to Liverpool's aid, especially with Swansea's lack of creativity and clinicalness up-front.

A Quick Glance at the Opposition

Garry Monk will himself admit to enduring an extremely 'stop and start' season thus far. When the Swans aren't doing the double over Manchester United, they are letting in five at home to Chelsea, or getting knocked out of the FA Cup by the hands of Championship side Blackburn. Swansea will no doubt look at this fixture as a stepping stone towards a decent run of games to end as high up at the table as possible.

Whereas Swansea's injury worries are concerned, it does not prove a good showing. Gomis' worrying collapse at White Hart Lane could rule him out for Monday night, and after the sale of main man Wilfried Bony in January, Monk's side will struggle to find goals in the team, especially against a defence as solid as Liverpool's.

Top Scorer: Sung-Yeung Ki, 6 goals                                    Red Cards: 4                                  

Goals Scored: 33                                                               Most YC's: Neil Taylor, 8

Goals Conceded: 37                                                         Play-Maker: Gylfi Sigurdsson, 8 assists

Clean Sheets: 10                                                               Biggest Victory: 3-0 vs West Brom

My Prediction and Probable Starting Line-Up

Let us face it, (and not tempt faith) Liverpool are a rejuvenated side since their last league defeat in December. Keeping in mind Swansea's stop-start form at the moment, I am predicting a solid 3-1 win for the red men, with Sturridge, Sterling, and Balotelli amongst the goals.

My probable line-up differs slightly from our last league game against Burnley.

Yes, I think it is finally time to proper release S-A-B in a fixture that would make or break his future in the red of Liverpool.

Come Tuesday morning, Liverpool may find themselves in fourth place and in touching distance of third place Arsenal. That is, if all goes to plan and Tottenham lend us a helping hand in the process. Just a couple of months ago a number of us where contemplating the possibility of a relegation dog-fight for Liverpool, who could not seem to get a foot right. The majority of our summer signings are now beginning to prove their worth and with ten games to go, surely things can only get better for the reds.

"If the league season started in January, Liverpool would be top, two points ahead of Arsenal."

If only Brendan would get his squad of players firing on all cylinders right from the start, Steven Gerrard could be celebrating his 35th birthday by lifting both the Premier League and the FA Cup in his last season in England.

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YNWA !!

LFC: How Brendan's Pre-Season Resolutions are Starting to Come to Fruition

Whether it was due to the millions of pounds spent on recruits in the summer, or the fact that our deadly front man Daniel Sturridge was missing for nearly five months, Liverpool did not resume where they left off last season following the exit of the ever-iconic (and troublesome) Luis Suarez.


Queue the 'Rodgers Out' brigade which lasted approximately a month or so, before out of nowhere Liverpool re-discovered last season's form and have impressed immensely ever since, diminishing the few anti-Rodgers 'fans' out there. What has evoked such a change in form? Which of Brendan's numerous summer plans seem to be materializing slowly but surely? In this blog I will decipher a couple of them.

Jordan Henderson and His Goal Tally

Firstly, let us begin with Jordan Henderson as a whole and the astonishing season he is undergoing. Liverpool's vice-captain has matured incredibly and is on leaps and bounds for the club at the moment. Here is a stat for you; Henderson has captained the reds 13 times this far, with the reds winning ten of them and drawing three. Yes, Jordan remains unbeaten as skipper, a feat that will impress our current captain whilst on the sidelines.

Prior to the commencement of the league season, Jordan himself had admitted just how pivotal it was to add goals to his game after a petty four last campaign. This time however, the Englishman has five to show for, with ten matches remaining to further improve his tally. It may not be a colossal improvement, however if Hendo does continue to build on his current form, goals will arrive, and plenty of them, I can assure you that.

Stop Shooting, Philippe!

Let us get one thing straight first and foremost; Philippe has endured an outstanding league campaign thus far. A couple of minor, yet essential tweaks to his game where required, one of these being his  'shoot on sight' tendency. It does not hurt to try your luck from outside the box every now and again, however the Brazilian was over-abusing that privilege, with most of these shots going wayward into the Kop.

The young magician seems to have listened to my prayers, and has since netted three wonder-goals in the space of a single month. His general ball play and execution in the final third has improved as well, with the large majority of shots that do not end up in the back of net, finding the target whilst forcing a save from the keeper. One, if not THE player of the season for the club thus far. (All this at the age of 22).

I'd Settle For a Scrappy 1-0!

Reds fans worldwide are extremely lucky to have survived the 2013-2014 league season. There was never a dull moment, from our thrilling 5-3 win at the Britannia, to our 6-3 showdown at Cardiff. We were scoring an abundance of goals, yes, (20 more than at this point last season, to be exact) however our defence was as leaky as a sieve, as we conceded more goals than seven other Premier League teams.

Whilst some would prefer those heart-racing thrillers, Rodgers instead pleaded for a more calm and serene approach, with clean sheets becoming of utmost importance to him. Now, Mignolet may not have had the best of starts to the season, but he is slowly improving and has accumulated ten clean sheets thus far, six of which have come in the last eight games. We may not be attacking with as much flair and prowess as the times of the SAS, however defensive stability is key for any title-winning team, something that eventually cost us the championship in 2014.

What do you guys prefer? A scrappy 1-0 win with a clean sheet, or a 5-4 thriller?

                           1-0 Win                                                            5-4 Win

Brendan Rodgers may have dislodged some of his haters for the time being, however one thing remains certain; Liverpool NEED to secure that final 4th spot. (With a cheeky attempt at 3rd in the process. I am not being greedy, I swear). I am 110 % sure that if the reds maintain their current scintillating form, that it is more than obtainable.





If Brendan's men WIN their remaining ten league fixtures, at least third place is GUARANTEED. A couple of tough encounters lie in between obviously enough, and I would love noting more than to see Steven Gerrard lift the FA Cup on his 35th birthday, thus hopefully it is 13 tough matches ahead.

Liverpool are on the up at the moment, which begs the question, "Why did we not start the season this way?" A summer resolution that Rodgers and his men failed to meet, unfortunately enough.







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YNWA!!

LFC: SIGNED UP! Coutinho's Top Moments at Liverpool So far & Areas for Further Improvement

The 2015 January transfer window was a pretty dull one to say the least. Whether it was due to the lack of abusive fans outside stadiums on deadline day, or Liverpool's subdued business done on the in-comings end remains to be known. That was, of course, until around half-an-hour prior to the eleven o'clock deadline, when the news broke that our little magician Philippe Coutinho has penned a new bumper 5-year deal, which will see him contracted to the club until 2020.

The surprising timing to this announcement was undoubtedly planned by Rodgers to usher away the few disgruntled questions posed by fans regarding why there were no re-enforcements made, particularly in the lacklustre forward area. Liverpool fans worldwide went berserk with the news, as recent reports were emerging that the Brazilian was unhappy at the club. A merry look portrayed across his face in the above pictures quickly diminished any lingering concerns, as I recount the 22-year old's top five moments at the club thus far, including areas that further need improving from his part.

5. Glorious 'chip assist' for Raheem against West Ham 

 

 

 

 We begin our countdown with the most recent of 'Philippe Coutinho brilliance' against West ham at Anfield the other week. The ball was chested down to the Brazilian by Raheem, who returned the favour by producing a world class chip in to the box to the Englishman, who made no mistake in making the score 1-0.

The 22-year old was not finished there however, as he played in the returning Daniel Sturridge, who slotted home and ultimately killed the game off, resulting into the youngster being rightfully named 'man of the match'. 

4. Coutinho trots all over Bolton

 

An intense FA Cup encounter between Liverpool and Bolton seemed destined to head into extra time and, if possible, penalties, until a moment of brilliance from the Brazilian meant an early shower for the red men, and ultimately more rest for their next fixture. As the 90 minute mark ticked over, Henderson made a run past a defender towards the box and played it to Coutinho, who made one step forward and produced a thunderbolt of a shot, that swerved left, right and centre before nestling above Lonergan in the Bolton net.  The Kop erupted and Philippe celebrated his new contract in style by guiding his Liverpool side into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

3. Keeping Warm In Bulgaria

We now take a slightly more comical look at the 'ever-so-serious' Philippe Coutinho. As we see in the video below, little Coutinho's ball game is as strong off the pitch as it is on it. I bet the Messis and Ronaldos of the footballing world cannot come close to matching the skills shown here by the 22 year old, on a cold and windy night in Bulgaria, huh?

2. Phil Dazzles St. James' Park

Runner up to the most obvious of winners is the Brazilian's exhilarating performance in Liverpool's 6-0 rout of the Geordies two seasons ago. The Brazilian was on fire yet again as he teed-up both Sturridge and Henderson to net, en-route to the demolition.

"Look at his strength for the third goal, where he out-muscles Hatem Ben Arfa on the line and then dinks the ball between two defenders."

Rodgers was not shy of admiration for Phil, especially after the first of his assists, a brilliant manoeuvre where he looks one way and then beautifully chips the ball the other, through a number of defenders to play Sturridge in. The icing on the cake missing from this performance was a goal to reward the youngsters' efforts.

1. THAT Winner Against Manchester City

It is many a reds' fans best ever footballing moment, therefore its only fitting to be rewarded as Coutinho's greatest accolade. The 80-minute mark was fast approaching in a match between two title rivals. The score showed a Desmond at 2-2, as the reds attacked looking for that winner that would ultimately guide them to the league title. (Or so we thought). That winner arrived from the young magician, who latched on to a poor clearance from Kompany to rifle a stunning volley past a hapless Joe Hart from outside the box. Anfield erupted as the match ended 3-2, sending Liverpool five points clear at the summit.



 I will not recount how the rest of the season panned out, however Phil's striker will no doubt live long in the memory as one of the top Anfield moments.

Areas That Need Improvement

- He Shoots When He Wants!

A 'bad habit' that, if cut out, would prove a colossal aid to himself and his fellow compatriots up-front. The Brazilian tries his luck from outside the box on far too many occasions, the majority of which end up in the Kop, or straight at the opposition keeper. (If you count out his last-minute wonder striker against Bolton the other week). It may be his Brazilian genes kicking in, who knows. One thing's for certain, if Coutinho looks up from time to time and does play that final pass through to a strike partner of his, instead of 'hitting and hoping', the 22 year old will be nothing short of unstoppable, and will accumulate many more assists in the process.

- The man needs some muscle. He disappears for large parts of matches on occasions.

In contrast to Emre Can, who makes his presence known here, there, and everywhere with his massive stature, Philippe tends to go missing at times due to his tiny frame and inability to out-muscle opposing players. What he misses in strength, he makes up for in creativity and skill, an abundance of that, as a matter of fact. However, in a league as fierce as the Premier League, one has got to possess both the strength and power in order to cope, and I reckon further experience and maturing will aid the Brazilian in this factor.

 

Lionel Messi is one of the world's greatest at the moment, however I strain my point that in a league such as the English one, he would struggle to cope physically. The same applies for our little magician, a minor tweak that should be improved by experience.

At the tender age of 22, Philippe Coutinho possesses all the attributes, and then some, to transform into one of world football's greatest. Brendan's Liverpool are extremely fortunate to have him tied down in our ranks for another five years at least, and if the tricky Brazilian does continue to wow us with his skill on the ball, and fix one or two minor, but essential tweaks to his game, he will undoubtedly prove to be monumental in Liverpool's rise to the top under Brendan Rodgers.

 For the time being, let us enjoy the ever-famous 'Ole' chant that is belted throughout Anfield each and every time the magician produces one of many of his unique set of magic tricks.

 

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YNWA !!

LFC: Liverpool vs West Ham United - Match Preview

"How Will the Reds React to Cup Exit?"

A couple of days have now gone by since that night at Stamford Bridge. From Liverpool's frustrating missed chances up-front, to Diego Costa's sadistic behaviour, Tuesday's tie is not one that will live long in the memory of us reds fans. It is of essence that Rodgers gets his squad of players fully focused as this weekend's fixture, alongside the flurry of league and cup fixtures to follow in February will undoubtedly make or break our season.

An in-form West Ham United may not be the ideal of opposition for Brendan and his men, however Liverpool will enter this weekend's match-up as firm favourites nonetheless.

Important Information & Statistics

Date: Saturday, 31st January                                         Liverpool League Position: 8th

Time: 3:00 pm (UK time)                                               West Ham League Position: 7th

Venue: Anfield                                                              Liverpool Current Form: DWWDWW

Referee: Andre Marriner                                                West Ham Current Form: WLLDDW

Is it on TV?: No

Chelsea Battle Proves We Are On the Up

It took Chelsea 210 minutes, a penalty, and two savage-like stamps from Diego Costa for Chelsea to overturn us over two legs. (Not to forget the extremely poor man-marking for the free-kick that led to the winning goal). No, Mourinho's ever-dominating Chelsea found it extremely difficult to defeat a seemingly haphazard looking Liverpool side, and if it had not been for the number of chances missed by Brendan's men, it would have clearly been game over after the first leg. 

Reverberating one of Brendan's most famous of phrases, Liverpool showed great character and determination throughout both legs, something that has been missing ever since last season. We where only a Daniel Sturridge away from destroying Mourinho's Chelsea and securing a place in the final. The numerous missed chances throughout echo that thought perfectly. Liverpool NEED a striker, however with a day or two of the window remaining, that request is looking the more likely to be unanswered.

He is Finally Back!

After five months and a staggering 32 matches without a decent striker up-front, we can finally speak the words "Daniel is Back!" After suffering an agonizing injury which was prolonged further than supposedly, Sturridge has finally returned to full training and has been deemed fit to play by Rodgers. The training pictures of Melwood in the snow published on Thursday afternoon brought a broad smile across each and every fans' faces out there, as we witnessed Sturridge in a joyous mood prior to his return.

Now, to the dying few questions that remain out there: Who will he replace? Who will he partner up-front? Will the disheartened Mario Balotelli transform into an entirely new player once placed alongside Daniel? One thing is for certain, the 'false number nine' system will be abolished for good, as we finally get to welcome a decent 'out and out' centre forward back to the side.

Ghosts of the Ex-Liverpool FLOPS to Return to Haunt Us?

Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll define the word karma to a T. The ex-red flops, who where sold for petty fees because they did not "fit in our style of play" have revelled under Big Sam, who must be sat on his couch this very moment, portraying a wide grin across his face. Downing in particular, a player we spent 20 million pounds, and sold for 5 has been one of the League's players of the season thus far, yet we sit here having just forked out 25 million on a Serb who has one goal to his name. In Carroll, we possessed a player who apparently did not "fit in our style of play", yet Rodgers opted in buying an older version in Rickie Lambert a mere two seasons later.

Should we have kept the duo, or is their current scintillating form an expression of the type of players they truly are, which is strong 'mid-table team' individuals? Have your say in the comment section below!

                               Should have kept both              Should have kept one (Name who)                                                                        Brendan made right decision

Team News - Mignolet to Retain Place After MOTM Display?

Leaving to one side our promising performances throughout both legs, we have our Belgian number one to thank for a string of world-class saves to keep the scores level. Mignolet was unbeatable on Tuesday night, in contrast to the many shaky displays we had come to witness of late. As Jones is still out on the sidelines, I fully expect Simon to get given the green light come Saturday afternoon. "In the next couple of days, I'll analyse the game and take the positives and negatives out of it, like I've always done." Let us all hope that is true, as a tricky West Ham outfit make the trip to Merseyside.

In other team news, Brendan has confirmed that Sakho has knocked off a slight niggle and is fit to start this weekend, which comes as a relief to us fans fearing the return of Dejan Lovren to the starting eleven.

A Quick Glance at the Opposition

This season in particular, Sam Allardyce has shown each and every one of us that the "long ball over the top" method is, more times than not, one of the best options going forward. (If not, I doubt they would find themselves one point above Rodgers' 'Tiki-Taka gone wrong' style of play). With that being said, they have endured a slight dent in form of late, and this will give the reds further cause to attack the game from the outset and win convincingly.

In contrast to Liverpool, who are faced with no fresh injury worries, West Ham have four doubts for the weekend's match, each one being a defensive player. Allardyce is sweating over the fitness of Jenkinson, Song, Tomkins, and Collins, four omissions that will no doubt bolster the reds' chances of obtaining a positive result.

Top Scorer: Diafra Sakho, 8 goals.                                 Red Cards: 1

Goals Scored: 35                                                            Most YC's: Winston Reid, 8

Goals Conceded: 25                                                       Play-maker: Stewart Downing, 7 assists

Clean Sheets: 5                                                               Biggest Victory: 3-0, vs Hull City

My Prediction and Probable Starting Line-Up

With Dan the man returning, and added to that Allardyce's injury woes at the back, I am going for a convincing 2-0 win, hopefully with a clean sheet as the cherry on top of the cake. As for the predicted line-up, I reckon Sturridge's return will alter the formation slightly.

I am foreseeing an omission from Mario Balotelli's side due to an "illness" of some kind, thus I have opted in omitting the Italian from my predicted line-up.

Entering the month of March, Brendan's Liverpool may find themselves still in the mix to win two trophies and claim that much coveted top four spot, or if worse comes to worst, the Northern Irishman may find himself jobless, with the reds knocked out of both cup competitions and the gap between us and fourth place proving too substantial an amount to recover from.

All eyes will be on Daniel Sturridge come Saturday afternoon. How will the Englishman react to the considerable amount of pressure heaped upon him to perform and begin to bang in the goals with immediate effect? Will Rodgers stick with his beloved "three at the back" or alter it to accommodate Sturridge? Liverpool need a response following their cup exit on Tuesday night, and a win that would take us above West ham into sixth place is essential. January has been a month of ups and downs thus far, let us hope we end it on high spirits against the East London club. 

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YNWA !!

LFC: Six of The Best! Up and Coming Stars to Emerge from Mewood Youth Academy

Liverpool FC boasts one of the strongest youth systems in world football. In contrast to recent polls conducted by Bleacher Report, Givemesport.com, amongst others, who seem to have disregarded the Merseyside club entirely and placed them towards the bottom end of the pile, players such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, and Raheem Sterling demonstrate just how wrong these poll-makers are, and that our base at Melwood is as strong as it has ever been.

The most recent of emerging professionals who have received the trustworthy call by Brendan at least once in the past include Raheem, Jon Flanagan, Jordon Ibe and Jordan Rossiter. Michael Beale and Neil Critchley's Under 21 and Under 18 sides are brimming with quality and promise, and although we have sadly lost a young gem in Suso to AC Milan, Liverpool's youth academy carries on going from strength to strength, and in this blog I will name you six of the best of these up and coming young Melwood talents.

6. Jordan Williams (19, Centre Back/Defensive Midfielder)

Prior to the Welshman's first-team debut in our Capital One Cup win over Middlesbrough, Jordan Williams was an unknown figure to 90 % of us reds fans. His introduction seemed a surprise to many, with the likes of talented prospects such as Harry Wilson and Jack Dunn yet to get a sniff in by Brendan. No, the 19 year-old was given the green light and excelled once introduced from the subs bench that night, shoring up the reds' defensive line and scoring a crucial penalty in the lengthy penalty shoot-out in the process.

The youngster can play in the centre of defence as a centre back, or as a defensive midfield "anchorman", a position that looks somewhat weakened amongst Brendan's first-team options.

5. Jerome Sinclair (18, Striker)

On the 26th of September 2012, a certain 16 year-old by the name of Jerome Sinclair replaced Samed Yesil in Liverpool's 2-1 win over West Brom in the Capital One Cup to break Jack Robinson's record as the reds' youngest ever player. Since then, the now 18 year-old has yet to play a single minute for Brendan's first-team squad, and has scarcely been involved with the under 21's either.

The youngster's immaculate pace and eye for goal has resulted into a number of reporters across the country dubbing him 'the next Raheem Sterling', in comparison to his slightly older compatriot. This wonder-goal scored against World Cup and European Championship winner Victor Valdes for the under 21's the other night is enough to give us cause for optimism, and the Englishman some much needed confidence as he eyes another call-up from the boss in the near future.

4. Harry Wilson (17, Attacking Midfielder/Winger)

From a club record breaker to one on the International stage. The wonder kid that is being touted 'the next Gareth Bale' broke into the limelight a mere one or two seasons ago, producing a string of exhilarating performances for Neil Critchley's Under 18's. This did not come unnoticed by Wales manager Seamus Coleman, as the youngster made his International debut at just 16 years and 207 days, beating the record previously set by Welsh icon Bale.

Wilson is now 17, and has, quite obviously enough yet to be called upon by Brendan. It is pivotal that the boss nurtures these youngsters the right way, and I do not reckon we should be piling the unnecessary pressure of first-team football and the strains that come with it on the shoulders of a 17 year-old, however promising the lad is. There is no doubt that the Welsh wizard's future lies on Merseyside, as we begin to be dazzled by a youngster who possesses all the traits, and then some, to become as successful as his Welsh compatriot Gareth Bale.

3. Sheyi Ojo (17, Attacking Midfielder/Winger)

Similarly positioned to Harry Wilson, Ojo joined the reds' youth system from League 1 outfit MK Dons in 2011, aged 14 and a half years old. A more mature individual now at 17, the Englishman has immersed us at Under 18 level with his jaw-dropping pace and trickery down both flanks. He has flirted with the first-team on several times as well, resulting into his name being placed on Brendan's subs bench for a number of first-team matches thus far.

Recent reports have linked Ojo with a loan move out of the club, a decision that, in my opinion, is best for all parties involved. A kid Ojo's age, although still very young, needs game time to develop and improve, and I reckon that a loan move to a lower-league side would entrust him exactly that. I highly doubt that, with Sturridge returning, Ojo will be given much of a look-in from now until the end of the season, especially with penultimate league and cup ties on the horizon. One thing we cannot question is the massive amount of talent this lad possesses. Will he return from his loan spell a better player, or will the current competition for places in Rodgers' side hinder just that?

2. Jordan Rossiter (17, Central Midfielder)

"A young lad just about to come on for a few mins for Liverpool in nextgen... Jordan Rossiter, big  shout but potentially a young Stevie G."

Now, whenever a statement that factual is Tweeted by any reds fan, it is quickly shrugged off as an 'over-excited fan Tweet'. However, when that fan's account is owned by one Robbie Fowler, it simply cannot be taken in the same manner. Ever since the Tweet was published, the 17 year-old has gone on leaps and bounds for the Under 21's, cementing his place as a regular, although he is four years younger than the competition's title.

Brendan himself has not shied away from his deep admiration for the youngster, hinting that we will be seeing more of Rossiter in the upcoming few months. To already have a number of first-team appearances for a club as high-calibre as Liverpool under your belt at the age of 17 is alone an incredible feat, and although I do not want to pile unnecessary pressure on the kid, I DO believe that he is Steven Gerrard's future successor. His eye for a pass, no-nonsense approach and attitude, and utter passion shown to play for Liverpool FC tells me that in itself, as we see a player who will undoubtedly be a regular in Liverpool's first-team squad in the next two-to-three years.

1. Jordon Ibe (19, Attacking Midfielder/Winger)

Although the most experienced of my list, young Ibe is an up and coming talent nevertheless. The lad who shares the same birthday as fellow 'wonder-boy' Raheem Sterling has all the attributes to equal, and even exceed the Jamaican's rocketing career on Merseyside. One could just imagine it: The Liverpool boss publishing his starting eleven in two years time, portraying Ibe on one side of the wing, and Raheem on the other. Unquestionably a recipe for success. The 19 year-old's ability is there for everyone to see, and young Ibe has definitely matured in his time on loan at high-fliers Derby, a statement echoed by Under 21 boss Beale.

The majority of reds fans questioned the abrupt termination of his loan spell at the Championship club. Should Brendan have kept Ibe at a club that is certain to play him week in, week out? Will he return and continue to be left frustrated on the sidelines, whilst jealously watching Raheem strutting his stuff on the pitch? A lot of pondering to do for Brendan, however his cards have now been played and it is essential he finds time to introduce the sensation that is Jordon Ibe to his starting eleven.

Liverpool's youth academy seem to have taken a substantial hit due to the recent haphazardness of the first-team. One cannot generate a table consisting of top youth academies and not include Liverpool. We may not be performing as relentlessly as we would like to, however a plan for the future is evident.

As the plans to expand the iconic Anfield stadium get under-way, and one or two of the reds' next-gen stars slowly begin to get introduced by the boss, one can only think positive thoughts when the phrase 'Liverpool's future' pops up. As you have probably read in last week's papers, Real Madrid's new signing Martin Odeegard will be earning a staggering 80,000 a week, at just 16 years of age. As unbelievable as that sounds, this is where I fear for a couple of our current young crop. If Rodgers' side does not improve it's league form and fails to qualify for Europe next season, we may see one or two of our young talents be lured away by the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, who will undoubtedly offer lucrative wage offers and brainwashing promises of first-team football. European golden boy Raheem Sterling has already been the subject of a few high-end offers, and I am afraid that if we maintain our mid-table positioning, we may well lose the youngster.

Will Brendan begin to introduce one or two of these six players listed, in such a pivotal point in time during the season, or will he wait till summer and plan from there? A minor thought amongst many in the bosses mind at the current moment, as Michael Beale prepares his Under 21 team to face Birmingham on Friday night.

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YNWA !!