The Liverpool youngsters who could impress Jurgen Klopp in pre-season
- Liverpool pre-season is underway
- Reds have fixtures in Germany and Singapore
- Klopp could give minutes to a number of young players
By Tom Gott
Liverpool are back in action after getting their pre-season training underway.
All eyes will be on expensive new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but there will also be plenty of youngsters looking to take advantage of the chance to make an impact on manager Jurgen Klopp.
Here's a look at some of the academy talents who will be looking to stand out.
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Tyler Morton
20-year-old midfielder Tyler Morton already has nine Liverpool appearances to his name, including starts in both the Premier League and Champions League in the 2021/22 season, so it's clear Klopp is already well aware of him.
Rather than hang around on the fringes last season, Morton took his talents to Blackburn on loan, following the successful path previously walked by Harvey Elliott the season before. He was a regular starter and missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.
Midfield is obviously an area of concern for Klopp and Morton is perhaps the first in line from the academy to make his mark.
Bobby Clark
Bobby Clark came through the Newcastle academy as a forward and spent the early days of his Liverpool tenure out on the wing, but he was shifted into a central midfield role last season and enjoyed plenty of success at Under-21 level.
Klopp handed Clark two senior appearances last season, including one as a midfielder in the Carabao Cup against Derby County, but may be more interested in the 18-year-old's talents now he has more experience in this in-demand position.
With Curtis Jones given an extended break after his England Under-21 success, Clark may get the chance to make a push for minutes.
Luke Chambers
Liverpool have been tipped to sign a new left-back to compete with Andy Robertson this summer, but Klopp could save himself some money by turning to 19-year-old Luke Chambers.
Chambers is yet to play for the Reds' first team but was handed his first taste of senior football out on loan at Scottish strugglers Kilmarnock for the second half of last season.
There are reports of interest from Reds great Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen but Klopp could put his faith in Chambers, who inked a new contract back in May.
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Melkamu Frauendorf
Melkamu Frauendorf is another who has been handed a brief taste of life in Liverpool's first team, making two appearances over the past two seasons, but the 19-year-old German spent last season with the Under-21s.
A versatile forward who is comfortable as a central striker, on either wing or even in an advanced midfield role, Frauendorf is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Liverpool academy and Klopp will undoubtedly be well aware of the talent at his disposal.
While Liverpool are well stocked in attack, someone with Frauendorf's versatility could be key to a senior squad that has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. The young German is ready to fill any void.
Conor Bradley
Perhaps the star of Liverpool's young loanees last season, Conor Bradley made a real impact in League One with Bolton Wanderers.
The right-back, who was deployed as more of a wing-back, racked up seven goals and six assists in 53 appearances and unsurprisingly caught the eye of Klopp, who has already confirmed his desire to take a closer look at the 20-year-old this summer.
"Our plans are bring him back, go in the pre-season and then enjoy the steps he made, then we will decide together what we are doing from that moment on," Klopp said in April. "The plans are in the moment, bring him back and keep him, but we will see that."
Ben Doak
Hopes are incredibly high for Scottish winger Ben Doak, who joined from Celtic last summer and made an immediate impact.
Usually lining up on his favoured right side, Doak bagged 11 goals and eight assists in 27 appearances across the academy last season and was even rewarded with five outings for Klopp's seniors.
The immediate issue for Doak is the fact that Liverpool currently have one of the best right wingers on the planet in Mohamed Salah, but the 17-year-old looks like a potential heir to the Egyptian's throne.
Dominic Corness
Under-21 captain Dominic Corness had an excellent season last year, impressing at the base of Barry Lewtas' side.
Offering more control and stability than most of the others on this list, the 20-year-old is a viable backup to Fabinho, who struggled horribly at times last season and would perhaps benefit from having some younger legs to take some of the strain.
Corness is yet to make an appearance at senior level but appears to be on the right track, and Klopp may be forced to sit up and take notice this summer.
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