'Really pleasing': Liverpool coach says there's a young forward doing really well in the academy right now
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Liverpool’s youth teams appear to be brimming full of talent just at the moment.
In the not too distant past, it was rare to see players coming through the youth ranks to join the senior Reds team.
However, the culture at the Liverpool academy has shifted in recent times. With a clear pathway emerging through to the first-team squad, the quality of talent has improved dramatically.
Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash with West Ham looks set to feature a couple of these young players, with Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni looking likely to play against the Hammers.
In the meantime, the Liverpool U21s and U18s continue to go from strength to strength.
Coach Barry Lewtas has been overseeing goings on with the U21s since 2020 and having watched his team beat Derby County 3-1 on Saturday, Lewtas has praised the return to form of Trent Kone- Doherty.
Trent Kone-Doherty praised for recent form
There has been a lot of hype about one young Liverpool forward over recent weeks, but it hasn’t been Kone-Doherty.
Liverpool staff have been excited by the arrival of Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea, and the 16-year-old looks set to be one to watch over the coming season.
But long before Ngumoha’s arrival, Kone-Doherty has been seen as a potential first-teamer.
The winger arrived at Liverpool at the same time as Ben Doak, in 2022. And while Doak’s rise has been more rapid, Kone-Doherty is a lightning quick forward, just like the Scotsman.
Unfortunately, the 18-year-old has been blighted by injuries over recent times. Now back to full fitness, though, Kone-Doherty scored the final goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win after coming on as a substitute.
READ MORE: What Man United really thought about signing Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea
And speaking to liverpoolfc.com about the Irishman, Lewtas said that Kone-Doherty’s return to form and fitness was ‘really pleasing’ to see.
“It will do his confidence the world of good, 100 per cent, and it was a nice goal,” raved the coach.
“We are becoming more consistent now in all phases of our game and that was a good goal.
“It was great for Trent as he was able to play a lot of minutes in the UEFA Youth League against AC Milan and we are building him up game by game,” added Lewtas. “It’s really pleasing.”
Who else scored for Liverpool?
Liverpool U21s have been in action again since Saturday, registering an impressive 1-1 draw against League Two Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy.
James Norris got the goal for the Reds, who went on to lose a penalty shootout which would have given them a ‘bonus point’ during the group stage.
On Saturday against Derby, though, Liverpool won their second game out of two in the Premier League 2.
While Kone-Doherty got his goal, it was Morton who dropped down from the senior side to run the show. The 21-year-old scored too, with Tommy Pilling adding a penalty.
The young Reds are next in action on Friday with a big game against Arsenal. Keep an eye out for some magic from Kone-Doherty.
