Three academy players are ready to step up to the first-team during Liverpool's tough run of fixtures - opinion
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Liverpool have reason to be pleased with themselves as the second international break of the season arrives.
The Reds sit top of the Premier League table after seven games, having won six and lost just the one.
While it has been the perfect start to life at Liverpool for Arne Slot, though, there is a feeling that the worst is very much still to come for the Dutchman.
Premier League rivals are expecting Liverpool to drop-off over the coming months as they embark on what looks like an intensely difficult schedule.
The Reds face Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton twice, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa in their next seven matches. Real Madrid, Man City, Newcastle and a first Merseyside Derby of the season lie just beyond.
With such a punishing run of games, Slot is going to need the full Liverpool squad to get through it in good shape. Luckily for the Liverpool head coach, he can also call upon some burgeoning talent in the academy, too.
Two midfielders ready to step up for Liverpool
The Liverpool academy has been a very productive source of supplementing the first-team squad over recent seasons.
Jurgen Klopp really discovered the depths of talent available to him at Kirkby in his final season at Anfield and Slot can now call upon three youngsters who could push them over the line in the coming months.
The first two are in midfield. With Liverpool failing to add to their ranks over the summer transfer window, there is a feeling that one injury could leave them short in the middle of the pitch.
Should that happen, young Trey Nyoni already looks on the verge of a call-up. The 17-year-old made the bench for the Champions League game against Bologna and is next in-line in the midfield.
READ MORE: Liverpool have a goal-scoring centre-back coming through the academy who could soon get his chance
Nyoni caught Slot’s eye in pre-season and has already been captaining the U18s in the UEFA Youth League this season. If the boss needs another body in midfield, Nyoni will be who he turns to.
If Liverpool need someone in the more advanced midfield position, though, then it would not be a surprise to see Kieran Morrison step up.
Already without Harvey Elliott, the Reds are pushing Dominik Szoboszlai a little too hard in the 10 position.
With Curtis Jones needed further back, Morrison looks like he could be an option for Slot. The 17-year-old has been with the U21s this term and already has a goal in five Premier League 2 games.
Jayden Danns set to give Liverpool boost
As well as the midfield, Liverpool could potentially need a little extra at the top end of the pitch in their brutal upcoming run of games.
Slot called for more goals from his central strikers recently. Although Diogo Jota answered that with a strike against Crystal Palace, there is perhaps still a feeling that he and Darwin Nunez could get more.
For the moment, Slot does not really have anyone else he could stick through the middle of the attack, though he did experiment with Federico Chiesa for a cameo against Bournemouth.
A more natural fit would be Jayden Danns, who scored twice in five appearances for the first-team last season.
Slot will take a look at Danns once he returns to fitness in the coming weeks and we think the 18-year-old could well grasp the bull by the horns and play himself into an important role over a testing period. There are others besides, but keep an eye on these three.
