As ever, the start of pre-season has seen a number of new faces brought into the Liverpool first team, so who are the eight players you may not recognise?
The Reds kicked off pre-season on Monday and were already outside working with the balls the following day, with Jurgen Klopp back and overseeing a 26-man squad.
Twelve of those were brought up from the academy, including eight less-familiar faces, and a spirited, high-tempo double session played out.
We know the likes of Tyler Morton, Owen Beck, Leighton Clarkson and Harvey Davies, who are now regular fixtures in first-team training and matchday squads.
But what about the other eight who have been involved in pre-season so far?
Fabian Mrozek
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 18
Signed from: FC Wroclaw, 2020
Mrozek joined the goalkeeping group along with Davies, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian, ahead of a big campaign within the academy.
Having already received exposure with the under-18s last season, the young Pole should feature more prominently following loan moves for Marcelo Pitaluga and Vitezslav Jaros, as Davies steps up.
Luke Chambers
Position: Left-back, centre-back
Age: 18
Signed from: Pre-academy
One of those named by Pepijn Lijnders back in January, Chambers followed up an excellent campaign as U18s captain – playing both left-back and centre-back – by joining England for their triumph at the Under-19 Euros.
A young player who is steadily bulking up, the 18-year-old is accomplished in both positions but is likely to see his future at left-back, owing to his energy and creativity.
James Norris
Position: Left-back, central midfield
Age: 19
Signed from: Pre-academy
Technically not a new face, having featured in last season’s FA Cup with an injury-time cameo against Shrewsbury, Norris is not yet a regular within the senior setup.
A combative and versatile left-back who can also play in various roles in midfield, the young Scouser was one of the sleeper hits of last season in the academy.
Isaac Mabaya
Position: Right-back, central midfield
Age: 17
Signed from: Pre-academy
Though Mabaya only played his first full season with the U18s last time out, he appears one of the best suited to the jump from academy to first team.
Equally adept at right-back as he is in midfield, Mabaya possesses real strength, technique and a relentless drive that earned him debuts with the under-21s and under-23s last term.
Stefan Bajcetic
Position: Centre-back, defensive midfield
Age: 17
Signed from: Celta Vigo, 2021
A clear project within the academy, Bajcetic was the last under-18 signing to sneak through the pre-Brexit deadline in 2021, and it is no surprise why Liverpool were so eager to bring him in.
The Spain youth international, whose Serbian father, Srdjan, played for the likes of Red Star Belgrade and Celta Vigo, Bajcetic has been converted from centre-back to the No. 6 role and has commanded the position with bite and finesse.
Tom Hill
Position: Attacking midfielder
Age: 19
Signed from: Pre-academy
Hill may be a new face at first-team level, but he has long been admired among the coaching staff and would almost certainly have made his breakthrough by now were it not for a long-term knee injury.
Prior to a near two-year layoff, the teenager impressed as a prolific attacking midfielder, with Jamie Carragher once describing him as a “smashing player.”
Melkamu Frauendorf
Position: Attacking midfielder, winger, right-back
Age: 18
Signed from: Hoffenheim, 2020
Another youngster who has already made his first-team debut, Frauendorf was handed 10 minutes in the 4-1 victory over Shrewsbury in January and caught the eye on the wing.
Born in Ethiopia but representing Germany, the teenager thrives in a host of positions, but he is arguably best in an advanced midfield role, with his speed, flexibility and attacking sensibility key assets.
Bobby Clark
Position: Attacking midfielder, winger
Age: 17
Signed from: Newcastle, 2021
Clark was signed from Newcastle in a deal worth up to £1.5 million last summer and quietly produced one of the best individual seasons in the Liverpool academy.
Lijnders is a keen admirer of the attacking midfielder, who combines quality in attack with the crisp possession play and work ethic required to make the jump into Klopp’s squad.
Fan Comments