Liverpool youngster has quietly had 'outstanding' season on-loan after impressing Arne Slot last year - opinion

03/30/2025 09:00 AM

With the end of another season in sight, Liverpool’s raft of loan players will soon return back to the mothership.

As ever, it has been a mixed campaign for those chosen to spend the year away from their parent club.

There have been some real success stories, with Ben Doak the standout from the early part of the season.

However, injuries have curtailed Doak’s impact with Middlesbrough, casting fresh doubt on his suitability for the first-team Liverpool squad in the process.

Others such as Owen Beck have received attention too, with Liverpool’s search for a new left-back potentially opening the door to Beck for next season.

But away from the likes of Doak, Beck, Lewis Koumas and Stefan Bajcetic, midfielder Luca Stephenson has quietly gone about being perhaps the most consistent of Liverpool’s loan army.

Luca Stephenson quietly impressing for Dundee United

Before last summer, many Liverpool fans had likely never heard of Stephenson. However, playing at right-back, the 21-year-old earned his spot on the tour of the USA.

After moving to Dundee United in August, Stephenson revealed Arne Slot had been impressed with him and had told him as much face-to-face before sanctioning the loan.

And if Slot has been keeping an eye on the former Sunderland youngster during his time up in Scotland, then he will no doubt have been further intrigued.

Stephenson has played in 28 of United’s 30 Scottish Premiership matches, starting 25 of them. He has become a key player for manager Jim Goodwin.

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“Jack, Manny, Sam Dalby and Luca Stephenson have all been outstanding,” Goodwin said back in December, with the Liverpool loanee kicking on further in the months since.

Although technically a midfielder, Stephenson showed his versatility while featuring at right-back for Liverpool in pre-season. With the Reds on the hunt for a new right-back, maybe Slot’s interest will have been piqued.

Does Stephenson have a future with Liverpool?

This is actually the second consecutive season in which Stephenson has been a regular player at men’s level. He was a staple in the team at League Two side Barrow in 2023/24.

The youngster’s impressive pre-season with Liverpool and then a step to the Scottish top tier show a steady development in Stephenson’s game.

"I can see a massive difference from where I was when I first came,” he told The Courier earlier this week. “Last year was my first year of men's football at Barrow. I was in and out of the team, trying to find my feet.

“Whereas here, I just think it's been a consistent season of playing week in, week out. I'm performing and it's been brilliant for me. I can see the change in my development, 100%."

Stephenson goes on to admit that he does not know what the future holds for him and with one year left on his deal at Liverpool suggests he may be on the move again this summer. However, having come onto his radar last year, Slot will no doubt be well aware of just how well Luca has been doing. An interesting one to watch in pre-season.