Liverpool’s four best academy graduates as Kirkby base set for £20m redevelopment
Liverpool have reaped the rewards of strong development of academy talents over the years, and are set to invest more into their younger stars.
Rio Ngumoha recently became Liverpool’s youngest-ever goalscorer, showing that there is a pathway to first-team action for their young stars.
Liverpool’s academy training base is in Kirkby, and it opened in 1998. With plenty of top-class talents emerging from there, Fenway Sports Group have now pledged £20 million of investment to upgrade the facilities there.
The Reds are clearly hopeful that more talents will emerge to become first-team regulars at Anfield, and Liverpool News has now listed four of the best to have developed at the facility, ruling out players from before, such as Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen.
Steven Gerrard was Liverpool’s best academy product
Steven Gerrard is arguably Liverpool’s greatest player of the modern era, and he had the added bonus of being a local lad who came through the academy.
Gerrard made his first-team debut in November 1998 and went on to become one of the best midfielders the Premier League has seen.
- Gerrard made 710 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 186 goals and providing 155 assists.
- The 114-cap England star was instrumental as Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005.
The midfielder came through the academy as Kirkby was being opened, and is a prime example of a youth talent making an impact on the first team.
Trent Alexander-Arnold succeeded as a youth graduate
While he did not depart in the best of circumstances, Trent Alexander-Arnold came through the academy from a very young age, developed within the Reds, and became an important member of the first team.
Alexander-Arnold was spotted early on by Jurgen Klopp and was brought into the first team after just 14 appearances for the under-21s.
The right-back won every trophy possible in 354 appearances and provided 92 assists from defence, as one of the best players to develop at Kirkby.
Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene at Liverpool
Raheem Sterling joined Liverpool as a teenager from QPR, but developed well within the academy to eventually join the first team.
- Sterling made 129 appearances for Liverpool.
- The winger scored 23 times and provided 18 assists.
Sterling’s best Premier League form came at Manchester City, but his development at Liverpool was fundamental to his success, and he thrived alongside Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez under Brendan Rodgers.
Curtis Jones impressed after coming through the academy
While Curtis Jones has not been as successful as some of the other players listed, he has become an important player for Liverpool and won trophies at the highest level.
Jones has played at every youth level for Liverpool, with 34 appearances for the under-21s, and has since made 183 appearances for the first team.
Many youngsters will look to Jones as an example to follow in following through the academy pathway to work their way into being a key figure within the club.
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