Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has four players ready to step up amid transfer theory

Liverpool apologise over ticket issues for Bilbao friendly

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Liverpool supporters have harboured concerns that just one addition has been made to Jurgen Klopp’s squad, despite their Premier League title defence being derailed last term. A devastating injury crisis and a subsequent drop in form meant that a 10-match unbeaten run was required in the final months of the campaign to finish in the top four. 

The Reds activated the £36million release clause inserted into Ibrahima Konate’s RB Leipzig contract to sign the defender but no further signings have been made. 

Gini Wijnaldum’s departure has prompted suggestions that another midfielder must be added to Klopp’s squad before the start of the season. 

However, a transfer seems some way off and The Times have reported that both Klopp and the Liverpool’s transfer hierarchy believe that the solutions to the problems faced last term lie within the club. 

The German head coach will have been pleased to see the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain each return from their respective injuries over the last couple of weeks. 

Klopp has also been impressed by a couple of the club’s academy players who have featured during the pre-season schedule. 

Express Sport picks out four starlets who could step up to the first team in the upcoming Premier League campaign. 

Harvey Elliott 

Express Sport understands that there was a belief within Premier League academies that this summer would provide a stronger opportunity than usual for young stars to prove their worth to first team coaches.  

Euro 2020, the Copa America and the Olympics have meant that senior squads have been stretched, leaving academy talents to fill huge gaps in training and in matchday squads.  

Liverpool midfielder Elliott is a shining example of someone who has grasped that chance. The 18-year-old had a successful loan spell at Blackburn last term and was widely expected to spend another year on a temporary deal. 

However, Elliott has impressed Klopp while transitioning into a more central midfield role, as opposed to the wide position that he occupied for most of his academy career.  

Elliott has made a difference in each of his pre-season outings and was rewarded with a start against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.  

He sent a curling effort inches wide in the first half before rattling the Kop crossbar in the second.  

There is now every chance that Elliott earns frequent game time next season, especially if Wijnaldum is not replaced. 

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Curtis Jones  

Liverpool fans are now familiar with midfielder Jones. Three more appearances will take him to half a century of outings for the club. He has also cemented his place in the England U21 side.  

Jones’ first senior goal was a stunning curling strike against local rivals Everton in the FA Cup. 

However, there have not been too many more of those moments from the 20-year-old.  

Wijnaldum’s departure and the possibility of no more signings means that Jones might be offered more frequent game time.   

Elliott’s emergence as a genuine candidate for the midfield role provides further competition to Jones. The former Blackburn loanee played in more minutes during pre-season.  

Jones is perfectly capable of playing regularly in the Premier League and this probably needs to be the season where he kicks on if he wants a long-term spell at Liverpool.

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Owen Beck 

As Andy Robertson trudged off the Anfield turf against Bilbao, Klopp readied teenage left-back Beck.

The youngster, who turned 19 on Monday, took every instruction on board and stormed down the left flank at each opportunity.  

Klopp likes his full-backs to be provide an attacking threat from out wide and Beck fits that profile.  

He managed five assists and a goal in PL2 last term and his family is hardly unfamiliar with Liverpool goals given that his uncle is club icon Ian Rush.  

Kostas Tsimikas has waited patiently to earn a regular run of games and will surely be Robertson’s back-up for Premier League fixtures.  

However, Klopp might choose to rest the Greek for cup matches if Robertson’s absence is long-term. Beck could fill in capably. 

Kaide Gordon 

There are several other young stars who might be ready for the Liverpool first team but who could instead be loaned out.  

Right-back Conor Bradley has impressed at youth level enough to earn a call-up to the senior Northern Ireland squad, for whom he made his debut in May. 

Bradley is one of those who could be sent into the EFL for regular first team game time. Midfielder Leighton Clarkson is another.  

Those exits could pave the way for 16-year-old sensation Gordon to feature on the substitutes’ bench.  

Gordon was from Derby County earlier this year and had already made his senior debut for the Rams.  

The tricky forward could be a beneficiary of the permanent increase of players allowed on club’s benches for the upcoming season, with Klopp and his fellow bosses allowed nine waiting in reserve. 
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