Liverpool’s academy has been responsible for a whole host of talented players over the years, with some breaking into the first-team and remaining there whilst others move on.
“There’s a scouser in our team...” echoes around Anfield on a weekly basis as the Merseyside faithful serenade Trent Alexander-Arnold who came through the academy system at Liverpool from age six and eventually solidifed his place in the first-team.
He’s since gone onto win major honours that include the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. He’s just one example of a young star who found his home in the first-team, but not every young prospect has been so lucky.
For every local star, there’s a long list of players who just couldn’t make the jump at an early age, but then went onto play all across Europe and beyond.
We’ve looked back at a host of hot prospects to bring you a list of Liverpool wonderkids who made it, and some who didn’t.
He’s since gone onto win major honours that include the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. He’s just one example of a young star who found his home in the first-team, but not every young prospect has been so lucky.
5. Jamie Carragher
A one-club man, Carragher joined Liverpool aged 10 and developed through the youth system and into the first-team set-up in 1997. He went onto become the club’s second-longest ever serving player with 737 appearances, as well as earning nine major honours across his Liverpool career.
6. Jerome Sinclair
Sinclair signed as a 14-year-old and was compared to Raheem Sterling at a young age. Aged just 16 years and six days old, he became Liverpool’s youngest ever player in 2012. Unfortunately, the next few years were a mixture of injuries and loan spells and despite scoring his first senior goal for the Reds in 2016, aged 20, but struggled to kick on and soon left for Watford in 2016.
7. Steve McManaman
Having enjoyed nine years in the senior team, McManaman was born and raised in Liverpool and became a regular in the first-team from 19. He developed into a key player over the years before moving onto Real Madrid where he found European success.
8. Tom Ince
Son of the former Liverpool star Paul Ince, Thomas struggled to fill his father’s boots after coming through the youth set-up. Strangely, he only played 14 minutes for the senior team before he was let go on a free after a dispute over a loan deal.