Dani Pacheco and six other failed Liverpool wonderkids’ mistakes Kaide Gordon must avoid

It was an outing that left Kopites purring.

Now fans are excited to track Kaide Gordon’s development after his maiden Liverpool goal in the 4-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Shrewsbury on Sunday.

The winger, who arrived from Derby for up to £3 million last year, notched the Reds’ equaliser with a composed 34th-minute finish. Doing so, he became the second youngest goalscorer in the club’s history.

Gordon’s overall performance against the League One visitors was bright and he earned plenty of praise from manager Jurgen Klopp at full-time.

“He’s a real talent and his main strength is his finishing,” said Klopp.

“He has a nose for it. I know he is the second-youngest goalscorer for Liverpool, which is absolutely exceptional, but there is a way to go.

“When he is in these situations he is really calm. I am not saying he will always score in these situations in the rest of his career but more often than not.

“His finishing is exceptional but all the rest he is still a kid. No problem, Kaide has time, he will have his minutes here and there.”

Gordon’s only 17 and still has plenty of work to do if he’s to become a future first-team regular.

Indeed, there have been plenty of fledgling talents who supporters have tipped for big things over the years - but failed to make the grade.

We take a look at the careers Gordon must not follow.

Ben Woodburn

The Wales international’s Anfield record still holds firm despite Gordon’s goal against Shrewsbury.

Woodburn remains Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer in the club’s history when he netted against Leeds in November 2016 aged 17 years 45 days.

However, Woodburn has failed to kick on since. He’s struggled during loan spells at Sheffield United, Oxford United and Blackpool.

This season, he’s looking to impress at Scottish Premiership side Hearts. He’s done OK so far, scoring three times in 16 appearances but it’s difficult to see him having a long-term future at Liverpool.

Jordan Ibe

When Liverpool sold Raheem Sterling to Man City for £50 million in the summer of 2015, some supporters weren’t too worried.

They felt that Ibe, who had displayed potential in abundance, could fill Sterling’s void with ease.

However, he couldn’t live up to those aspirations.

In fairness, Ibe made 41 appearances in the 2015-16 season.

But the Reds opted to cash in on him at the end of the campaign, with Bournemouth splashing out £15 million.

Ibe struggled for form at the Cherries, though, and was released at the end of his contract in 2020.

He joined Derby last season but played only once before having his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Ibe, 26, admitted last year that he struggles with depression and is without a club.

Dani Pacheco

Liverpool prised the attacking midfielder from Barcelona for an undisclosed fee in 2007.

At the time, he was 16 and had been nicknamed El Asesino (The Assassin) at the Nou Camp for his predatory nous in the final third.

But Pacheco lacked any sort of killer instinct during his time on Merseyside.

In total, he made just 17 appearances for the Reds during his six-year stay.

Pacheco endured difficult loan spells at Norwich, Rayo Vallecano and SD Huesca before he joined AD Alcorcon in September 2012 after his Liverpool contract expired.

Pacheco is now 31 and plays for Cypriot outfit Aris Limassol, having had spells at Real Betis, Alaves, Getafe, Malaga and UD Logroñés.

Sheyi Ojo

Like Woodburn, Ojo is still also on Liverpool’s books.

But when his deal expires in the summer, he’ll be looking for a new permanent club.

The forward cost the Reds around £2 million from MK Dons in November 2011. A host of European clubs were also on his trail.

But Ojo has made only 13 outings for Liverpool and been on loan in the past five seasons.

Currently, the 24-year-old is out at Millwall where he has played 16 times.

Jerome Sinclair

When he arrived at Liverpool as a 14-year-old from West Brom in 2011, he was compared with Sterling.

Sinclair’s career went in the opposite direction.

He made just five appearances for Liverpool and also struggled for game-time on loan at Wigan Athletic during the 2014-15 season.

Still, the Reds netted £4 million when the winger left for Watford in the summer of 2016.

However, he didn’t make an impact at the Hawthorns and now finds himself as a free agent after loans with Birmingham, Oxford, Sunderland, German club VVV-Venlo and Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia at the age of 25.

Krisztián Németh

The striker was tipped for a bright future when he joined Liverpool as an 18-year-old from MTK Budapest, having helped them finish second in the Hungarian top flight.

Nemeth was deadly for the Reds’ reserves, helping them claim the Premier Reserve League national title in his first season and was voted Fans’ Player of the Season.

But he never could make the grade in the first team. Not once did he don the Liver Bird and also couldn’t make an impact during loans with Blackpool and AEK Athens.

Nemeth has had a nomadic career since leaving Anfield in 2010.

He’s been a globetrotter, representing Qatar side Al-Gharafa to MLS outfits New England Revolution, Sporting Kansas City and Colombus Crew.

Now aged 33, Nemeth is back is his homeland playing for Debreceni VSC.

Samed Yesil

Liverpool paid £1 million for the centre-forward in the summer of 2012 after he’d broken through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen.

Yesil had been a prolific goalscorer for Germany at youth level - but struggled at senior level.

During his four years at Liverpool, he made only two appearances.

After his release in 2016, Yesil joined Greek side Panionios before returning to Germany with KFC Uerdingen 05.

He then moved to Turkish side Ankara Demirspora and now finds himself in Germany again at FC Homburg.

Aged 27, he now also works in a factory.