Liverpool’s Academy – Two Years On From ‘Klopp’s Kids’ | OneFootball

Liverpool’s academy structure underwent a seismic refresh in the summer of 2025 as long-serving management duo Marc Bridge Wilkinson and Barry Lewtas left their respective posts as Under 18s and Under 21s managers. 

In their place came former Salford and Man United youth coach Simon Wiles, as well as the major coup of landing ex-Wales national team manager Rob Page, who was tasked with taking on the responsibility of harnessing the Reds’ second rung of talent and potentially moulding the next Robbie Fowler or Steven Gerrard-level superstar. 

Following years of feel-good breakthrough stories, as the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, and Caoimhín Kelleher all came through the ranks to establish themselves as first-team players at Anfield in one guise or another, there was a risk of the production line slowing down despite the heroics of ‘Klopp’s Kids’ at Wembley in 2024. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side finished the Wembley showpiece and overcame Chelsea with five players aged 21 or under on the pitch – 18-year-old Jayden Danns, 19-year-olds Bobby Clark and James McConnell, Harvey Elliott (20) and Jarell Quansah (21). Furthermore, Liverpool academy graduate Conor Bradley had been forced off in the 72nd minute, whilst Ben Doak, Stefan Bajcetic and Alexander-Arnold all missed out through injury. 

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The pride emanating from the academy that day was clear for all to see in the weeks that followed; however, for various reasons, those five, nor others around the academy set up at the time, have truly followed in the footsteps of graduates that have gone before. 

Elliott is currently enduring a wholly forgettble season long loan at Aston Villa that has been blighted by clauses and obligation talk as opposed to goals, assists and appearances. 

Meanwhile, Danns – who had shown his goalscoring exploits at the senior level – has struggled to get fit for a prolonged spell. Clark followed Pep Lijnders in an equally ill-fated move to Red Bull Salzburg and has since found a home at Derby County, whilst McConnell recently returned from a loan spell at Ajax that never truly got going and was ended early by injury. 

Perhaps the success story of the quintet thus far is Quansah, who, despite falling out of favour under Arne Slot, is currently enjoying a strong first season at Bayer Leverkusen, where he has certainly impressed in his 30 appearances for the German side. 

Beyond the young heroes of the day, teenage midfielder signed from Leicester City in 2023, Trey Nyoni, was an unused substitute, and Lewis Koumas was also in reserve, the Welsh forward now on loan at Hull City and recently scored on his debut for the Championship outfit.

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So, with just one of the seven of ‘Klopp’s Kids’ currently close to the Anfield first-team, the next batch of youngsters ready to make the step up is already a consideration and whilst it was a difficult start to the campaign for both the Under 18s and the 21s, 2026 has brought around a change in momentum. 

Wiles’ younger charges have been the great entertainers all season long and currently occupy 4th place in the Under 18 Premier League behind Man City, Man Utd and Nottingham Forest. 

Freescoring with 57 goals – the second highest in the division – Wiles’ side have also coceded 49 – the second highest in the division also – with Josh Sonni Lambie currently leading the scoring charts with 15 goals, Joe Bradshaw firther down the standings with nine and the much talked about 15-year-old sensation Joshua Abe sat on eight goals and three assists from just five appearances.

Goals aside, the recent emergence of Luca Eden, the form of Haydn Murray-Holme and the breakthrough from Hungarina midfielder Erik Farkas have all offered yet more encouragement that the future is bright. 

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For Page’s side, it’s been more conventional in their recent upturn in form with regular, defensively sound performances from the likes of Carter Pinnington, Amara Nallo and January signing Noah Adekoya contributing impressively. 

Having curelly lost top scorer Keyrol Figueroa to injury, the star of the show more recently has certainly been Kieran Morrison, as the Northern Ireland youth international has taken his personal tally to 11 goals as well as picking up the January Premier League 2 Player of the Month award – the first Red to do so since Curtis Jones – and earning the captain’s armband whilst also taking a seat amongst Slot’s subs. 

Albeit only four fixtures remain for the 21s and sat in 5th place a top of the table finish feels unlikely, such is the nature of the format, success could still be on the cards as the play-off system will eventually decide the winners and as well as the aforementioned starlets, the likes of Will Wright, Trent Kone Doherty and potentially even a returning Danns could all have a major impact. 

All of that is to say that whilst question marks remain over the use of youngsters at first team level, the recent performances, results and mid-season January reinforcements of the academy suggest that all remains hopeful for the next generation of Liverpool. 

A man heralded as one of the greatest football developers in the game overseeing matters, coupled with the club continuing to invest and show a desire to sign the brightest young talent from across Europe, a recent new deal for academy director Alex Inglethorpe were both sure signs of a youth system moving in the right direction. 

Group all of that with the planned £20million revamp and refurbishment of the AXA facilities, and we can remain confident that we will be able to chant the ‘Scouser In Our Team’ for years to come…