As part of Liverpool’s success in the Premier League and across Europe, the club’s academy setup has played a vital role throughout the last couple of decades.
Steven Gerrard is arguably the most high-profile name to emerge from Melwood, with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold another player who made himself a key senior squad member.
The 27-year-old racked up a staggering 354 appearances for his boyhood club, subsequently registering 86 assists during such a period – often having a bigger impact within attacking areas.
He arguably made the advanced right-back role what it is today, but there’s no denying that whilst his departure upset supporters, they must wish the Reds still possessed a player of his calibre.
Why Liverpool have failed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold
Replacing a player of Trent’s calibre was always going to be a tricky task for Liverpool’s recruitment team, but a year on it appears as though the ask was bigger than expected.
His subsequent departure was seen as the perfect opportunity for Conor Bradley to become the club’s first choice in that department, but it’s safe to say it’s not worked out for the Northern Ireland star.
He only made 15 league appearances last campaign, and has failed to feature in a single game since January after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal.
The Reds also spent big in the transfer market to soften the blow of Trent’s departure, subsequently spending £34m on the signature of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Dutch international was seen as a superb attacking replacement, but like Bradley, he’s been unable to deliver the goods over recent times at Anfield.
A lack of form and frequent injury issues have plagued the 25-year-old, but Andoni Iraola has already seemingly decided that he will be second choice on Merseyside.
Jeremie Frimpong – injury record at Liverpool | ||
|---|---|---|
Injury | Days missed | Games missed |
Hamstring | 13 | 2 |
Hamstring | 21 | 4 |
Hamstring | 54 | 14 |
Hamstring | 29 | 5 |
Muscle injury | 10 | 1 |
He’s been dribbled past 1.6 times per 90 in the Premier League so far this campaign, a figure which has seen only 9% of defenders being taken on more to date.
How Liverpool have found their biggest talent since Trent
Trent’s departure from Liverpool has also opened the door for another heap of talented young prospects to capture the hearts of the fanbase on Merseyside.
Rio Ngumoha is the latest star to emerge from the club’s infamous academy setup, subsequently making 34 senior appearances despite being just 18 years of age.
The winger’s direct and pacey nature has often got supporters off their seats at Anfield, something which has been lacking off the left side since the departures of Luis Diaz and Sadio Mané.
However, he’s not the only young talent to make himself a regular starter in Iraola’s system, with new centre-back Jeremy Jacquet making an instant hit with the supporters.
The Frenchman, who officially joined the Reds this summer from Rennes, has already become a regular starter in 2026/27 and could become as big a talent as Trent on Merseyside.
Whilst he operates in a different position to the Englishman, his quality at the heart of the backline has already seen him receive huge praise from many pundits across Europe.
His stats from Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham at Anfield is another example of his remarkable talent, with the 21-year-old undoubtedly the shining light in what was a disappointing afternoon.
Jacquet offered a calm and composed presence at the heart of the defence, as seen by his tally of 96 touches and 86% pass accuracy – the former being the most of any player on the pitch.
He also completed 16 line-breaking passes when playing out from the back, whilst completing 100% of his dribbles – further reaffirming his excellent ability with the ball at his feet.
Even without possession, the Frenchman managed to dominate, subsequently winning 100% of the aerial duels he entered during the stalemate with Alvaro Arbeloa’s men – leading to one social media star dubbing him as “ridiculous.”
Jacquet also made two tackles, five ball recoveries and a goal line clearance – which allowed the Reds to keep their second clean sheet of the new campaign.
He undoubtedly has a long way to go before reaching the levels of Trent at Anfield, but there’s no denying the youngster has already made an immediate impact with the supporters.
At just 21, he has a huge future ahead of him on Merseyside, which could see the defender emulate the Englishman’s ability to lead the club to Premier League and European glory.
