Conor Bradley’s emergence at Liverpool has once again proved the strength and depth of the club’s academy, and two more future stars are knocking on the door of the first team.
The Reds continue to produce top class prospects who shine in the first team. With the emergence of financial fair play repercussions, transfers in the January window have been quiet, so the focus on Liverpool’s academy is stronger than ever.
The Liverpool youth structure has numerous prospects that are beginning to threaten the first team and could help Liverpool achieve silverware this season. Two of those are Bobby Clark and Trent Kone-Doherty.
At 18, Clark has shown immense potential as a midfielder, impressing with his speed, technical ability and understanding of the game.
His ability to control the midfield and create scoring opportunities has drawn comparisons to the sport’s most iconic players.
Liverpool won the race to Clark’s signature in the summer of 2021, beating Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
His impact was immediate, scoring a goal in a 3-3 draw with Nottingham Forest U21. His form continued that season, scoring 10 goals and providing eight assists in 15 appearances.
He didn’t go unnoticed at Liverpool and the following year made his debut for the senior team in their 9-0 win against Bournemouth.
Clark became the first player born in 2005 to feature in the Premier League. Hopefully this isn’t the last record he will be breaking with the Reds.
He comes from a line of footballing excellence, his father Lee played 185 games in the Premier League, something the younger Clark would love to repeat.
This season Clark has registered six senior appearances and seven youth appearances. It is clear the young midfielder is in Jurgen Klopp’s plans after Liverpool rejected numerous loan deals including a deadline deal from Derby.
Meanwhile, Kone-Doherty is an Irish winger making waves In Liverpool’s youth setup.
A tricky and exciting winger blessed with great pace, Kone-Doherty joined the Reds in 2022 from his boyhood club Derry City for £150,000.
In his first year at the club Trent fired in 11 goals in domestic and European outings in the Reds’ youth setup and earned himself a well-earned call-up to first team training.
The winger admitted he made a huge sacrifice when he joined the Reds, but it has clearly paid off.
He already has an Ireland U19 cap under his belt and has been an international since the age of 15.
Coming off the back of an injury Kone-Doherty has not slowed down, registering 17 games and contributing to 12 goals – impressive numbers for any youngster.
His work is clear to see, and the improvement of his weak foot has made him frightening on both wings.
Manager Klopp has displayed his love of versatile attackers and that only increases the Irishman’s chances of a breakthrough to the first team.
With the prospect of a first team debut likely, this could be Kone-Doherty’s year.
Liverpool are still in with a chance of the quadruple and this might present a chance for the 17-year-old.
