Liverpool have signed teenage goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga, who was partly scouted with the help of the Reds' current No. 1 Alisson Becker's brother Muriel while the pair were at Fluminense. Pitaluga, 17, was part of the Brazil squad that won the FIFA U17 World Cup on home soil last November and he has started training at Melwood. There, he will be based with the first-team group and will play for the club's academy teams. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...lisson-brother-goalkeeper-latest-b886325.html
You can't get excited about the fact that one of North Macedonia or Georgia will be in Euro 2020...err....2021?
I'd love to see this kid make it in the first team squad ... From non-league to Champions League – The surreal rise of Rhys Williams at Liverpool As recently as March, the 19-year-old was turning out for non-league Kidderminster Harriers, having joined the National League North side – in the sixth tier of English football – on loan at the start of 2019/20. https://www.thisisanfield.com/2020/...e-surreal-rise-of-rhys-williams-at-liverpool/
Rhys Williams capped off an excellent week with an eye-catching performance for Liverpool’s Under-23s on Saturday, heading home from a corner to put his side in front on the way to a 3-1 win over Chelsea.
Williams went to play with the U23’s instead of getting a place on the bench against Sheffield. Instead, Nat Phillips made the bench. It could be that Klopp wanted Williams to get another game because he wants to use him on Tuesday against Midtylland.
Liverpool striker Paul Glatzel was back amongst the goals for the first time in over a year following a 4-2 victory for the under-23 team against West Ham at Rush Green FC. Glatzel missed the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign due to an ACL injury.
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/415129-jurgen-klopp-curtis-jones-rhys-williams Good little article “Yes, that’s true, you couldn’t play centre-half!”
Liverpool FC are currently dealing with a small outbreak of COVID-19 in the club’s youth ranks, with around ten coaches and players said to be in self-isolation and some training sessions having been cancelled this week as a result. https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.c...ayers-staff-self-isolation-none-seriously-ill
Paul Glatzel and Joe Hardy are set to be sidelined for several weeks after suffering ankle ligament injuries.
I see Elijah Dixon-Bonner is on the UEFA B list but he doesn't seem to be getting a game for the U23s.
Jürgen Klopp believes Liverpool would have been lost this season without Curtis Jones, Caoimhín Kelleher and other academy talents seizing their opportunities on the first-team stage. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ducts-have-saved-liverpool-season-midtjylland The Liverpool manager could give several youngsters their Champions League debuts at FC Midtjylland on Wednesday with Group D won and senior players in the midst of a gruelling schedule. Kelleher is again expected to start in Alisson’s absence, having impressed against Ajax and Wolves. The seamless introduction of the 22-year-old goalkeeper, the midfielder Jones and the defenders Nat Phillips, Rhys Williams and Neco Williams is, according to Klopp, why Liverpool sit top of their Champions League group and joint-top of the Premier League. Klopp said: “We lost top-class players to injuries and, of course, one door closes and another opens up, but you still need the right players to use the chance. All the boys did it. What Rhys Williams did in the Champions League so far is exceptional. What Nat did when he played in the Premier League was absolutely exceptional. Neco played two really good games in a row, especially the last one. Curtis plays like he’s played with us for 10 years. Caoimhín was always a talent and now he has the chance to show that on the big stage."
the silver lining in this season's dark injury cloud is the way we've brought in the young lads, and how they've each performed. given the strength of our first team starters, it would usually take the kids a couple more seasons to get any kind of serious minutes in the first team. it is extremely hard for any Prem manager to risk results by displaying patience with a youth, and with so much pressure to parachute in a "finished article" transfer, opportunities to show what you can do are severely limited. so as a kid, apart from maybe a spot in an FA Cup or League Cup game (which these days is little more than a chance to rest the big guys) you really are begging for scraps. but look what we have at this point: Jones - has made the grade 100%, seeing him start doesn't cause any questions Rhys - doing great, hardly a mis-step, doesn't look out of place Neco - nervous at times, but no question the kid has talent and the club see huge potential Nat - has done very well. an example of just how high our standards are Kelleher - starting to look like a very capable backup to one of the best in the world our coaching team flies under the radar, but they are doing one hell of a job.
I would take it a step further with Jones. At this point seeing him not start would raise questions. He not only looks like he belongs, he has become a first choice player in the best team in the world.
I don't think he's first choice - he's first choice based on our injury list. He is showing he will have to be considered soon, however Putting aside Thaigo's injury - he walks into any side in the world. Henderson and Gini also start. So for Jones to be a starter - this presumes that Fab is a CB for a while too. And despite Keita's start stop nature - he brings a better defensive and ball recovery potential.
Jones is taking the place that a fit and available Ox would be filling. it will be interesting to see how they are managed once Ox is available. could be that Jones has now leapfrogged Ox in the midfield pecking order.
Jones’ performances in this last few games have all been better than anything we have since from Ox since before his injury against Roma two and half years ago.
If Thiago is fit, it would probably be Henderson, Gini, and Thiago for the big games. But Jones does offer something different. I do think you have to consider Fabinho a centerback, and Jones has moved ahead of Keita in my eyes.