Liverpool youngsters who could save club millions in the transfer market in 2026 | OneFootball

Reds academy is bursting with young talent

Arne Slot has not been able to hand out as many opportunities as he perhaps would have liked to Liverpool’s academy players this season.

However, with Liverpool seemingly having turned a corner, the new year could present fresh opportunities.

Here, Standard Sport takes a look at three Liverpool youngsters to keep an eye on in 2026...

Rio Ngumoha

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Rio Ngumoha

Rio Ngumoha put the rest of the Premier League on watch when he scored a dramatic late winner at St James’ Park in August.

The Liverpool winger, snatched from Chelsea’s academy in September last year, was already generating plenty of buzz after a scintillating pre-season, but has since taken to senior football with consummate ease.

Slot was careful to downplay the hype surrounding Ngumoha, who signed his first professional contract in September, earlier in the season, and he has since been sure to shield the 17-year-old from the criticism levelled at his Liverpool side.

Ngumoha has played just 42 minutes of Premier League football this term, but he will undoubtedly be involved more regularly as the season progresses.

The England youth international’s talent is undeniable, and with Liverpool picking up some momentum, more minutes should become available for the teenager.

Wellity Lucky

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Wellity Lucky

Wellity Lucky was given a baptism of fire on his Liverpool debut as he replaced Andy Robertson during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in October.

The young Spanish defender has earned the trust of Slot in a difficult season and has become a more regular fixture in Liverpool’s Premier League squads in recent weeks.

Lucky signed a new long-term deal in the summer to underline his growing importance and will hope for more first-team minutes in the new year.

A versatile defender, Lucky can play at centre-back and right-back, and is revered for his ability on the ball and his reading of the game.

Liverpool are currently struggling for options at centre-half, with Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the rest of the season, while Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo are nursing injuries.

This has created an opportunity for Lucky, who Slot has confirmed is now a permanent member of the first team.

Trey Nyoni

Liverpool FC

Trey Nyoni

Despite being just 18, Trey Nyoni is already a fairly well-known face around the Liverpool squad, having made five first-team appearances for the Reds last season.

The Reading-born midfielder became Liverpool’s youngest-ever player in Europe by coming off the bench in the Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven in January at the age of 17 years and seven months.

Nyoni has continued to be given opportunities by Slot even as results have spiralled this season, and he made his Premier League debut during Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham.

The attack-minded midfielder has enjoyed a rapid rise since Slot arrived last year, making his debut in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

However, the Liverpool boss was also keen to state during pre-season that Nyoni’s body would have to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League before he could think about using him more regularly.

“He's just turned 17, and his body has to grow, and we are really careful with him. So he doesn't join every session, and sometimes he goes out a bit earlier because he only turned 17, and you can see his quality, but you can also see his body still needs some time to grow to play at Premier League level,” Slot said in July.