The future is bright Red for Liverpool

Rafa has completely revitalised our youth & reserve team setups since arriving, bringing in some extraordinary talents such as Lauri Dalla Valle, Gerardo Bruna, and Dani Pacheco to name but a few.
In recent seasons we've won 2 youth cups and after tonights reserve match against Aston Villa, the Liverpool reserves were crowned National Champions and did so in style (as they have done all season). A cynic might suggest it was only a reserves game (we play our youth players), but watching it on LFC TV was no less exciting than a first team game. In fact, it was more exciting at times due to the free flowing football on display (something we don't see often enough from our 'senior' players). Lucas, Insua, and Plessis have already had first team debuts but it's clear we've many more talents capable of making the step up :-)

Wasted opportunity to blood more youngsters

With nothing left to play for at this stage of the season, I'd hoped that Rafa would take the opportunity against Manchester City to blood some more youth players (e.g. Plessis & Nemeth). Sadly it didn't quite work out that way but at least Insua & Lucas got their game.
Insua showed some nice touches, got forward often and played the full game. He's shown plenty of potential in the reserves and depending on transfer activity this summer we just might get to see more of him next season.
Lucas had an ok game, he keeps things nice and simple, but was well impressed with his overhead kick attempt. I reckon he's still just finding his feet and gaining confidence, next season we should see what Lucas is really made of.

Damien Plessi was a very pleasant surprise

I knew Rafa would field a weakened team against Arsenal, but I didn't think for a second that he would give a starting berth to Plessi for his debut. I'd only seen him play for the reserves prior to today and alongside Insua, he looked most likely to make a first team breakthrough.
He's been likened to a young Patrick Vieri, but then again wasn't the same said for Momo Sissoko. Unlike Sissoko though, Plessi looks to be a far more accomplished passer of the ball. He looks a very good prospect and was very composed for his debut (especially given that 4th place is far from certain).
Hopefully he'll get many more chances to prove himself this season. With our shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation, there's room for another top class midfielder, who knows maybe Plessi can develop in to such a player.

Interesting developments on injury front

Skrtel picked up a calf injury in training, which leaves room for Mikel San Jose to make his debut for Liverpool. He looks a tidy defender (in reserves) but needs to bulk up a little, with Hyypia & Aurelio only just back training (Agger is still out) and Hobbs on loan, I don't see that we have any other options than San Jose for the game against Barnsley.
Thankfully Hyypia should be ready for the game against Inter Milan. Torres is also back in training (hope he's not risked against Barnsley) and having him up front again is vital for us as Rafa seems reluctant to pair Babel & Crouchie and Kuyt continues to fire blanks.

Simon Skrabb on trial with Liverpool FC

He already had a trial with us last August and his club Jaro have confirmed that he will be visiting Liverpool 2 or 3 times a year prior to a possible permanent transfer further down the road.
At just 13 years of age, the attacking midfielder is rated as yet another of Finlands most promising youngsters and if he turns out to be anywhere near as good as Lauri Dalla Valle (who was also bestowed with that tag when we signed him) then we could be in for a real treat further down the line :-)

2 more youngsters fly the nest

On the final day of the transfer window, 2 more youngsters have left LFC. Besian Idrizaj who was hailed as a very promising talent when we signed him (Austrian Young Player of the Year) never really settled in Liverpool, he has returned to Austria to play with Wacker Tirol. As for 'home grown' Lee Peltier, the impressive defender has made his loan move with League One side Yeovil Town permanent.

Much needed experience coming his way

Now that we've signed Skrtel, it frees up Hobbs to go out and gain some much needed experience, which is precisely what he's doing. Scunthorpe have secured his services for the remainder of the season and given that they're in a relegation battle in the Championship, it should enable Hobbs to see plenty of action. Hyypia probably won't be around much longer, so having a more experienced Hobbs back next season means we'd have plenty of cover in central defence.

Andre Wisdom signs for Liverpool :-)

Crikey, we've started signing babies now, our latest youngster to sign up is but a mere 14 years old. LFC have paid an undisclosed sum with additional payments based on his progress over the years.
While there's plenty of talk on the net about how talented the highly promising boy is, I've yet to find out what position he plays! If there's anyone out there who happens to have seen him play for Bradford City youth teams, feel free to enlighten us as to what he's actually capable of ?

Matt Hughes on trial with Liverpool

Despite being only 15 years old he has already impressed in Rochdales academy & reserve teams. The defender is extremely highly rated, possessing excellent leadership qualities & fantastic all round attitude.
One of the things I really like about Rafa is his determination to chase down top youth talent and build something akin to what Wenger has done with Arsenal. While I hope Matty Hughes trial is a success, I doubt we'll sign him for another couple of years (until he's eligible to sign professional forms).

Will the Yanks let us have Daniel Opare ?

He's only 17 years old, but is an incredibly exciting prospect and was rated the best defender at last years under-17 World Cup with his surging runs and precise crosses from right back. The young Ghanian has made it clear that his preference would be to play in the premiership.
Unfortunately he's got a buy out clause of £1.5 million from his club Ashanti Gold and things are still up in the air regarding the extent to which Hicks & Gillet are prepared to back Rafa. Despite any differences they have with Rafa I'd like to think they're at least still prepared to bring in highly promising youngsters which Liverpool can build on in years to come.

Alex Cooper signs for Liverpool

The young 16 year old left winger is a bit of a speedster with an aggressive streak (which can help in the premiership if he makes it). Despite his young age he has already played for Ross Countys first team and has been called up for Scotlands under-17 side as a result (yes that's right he's Scottish!!).
So that troublesome little left wing of ours has another pretender stalking it, as ever he joins a long line of youngsters signing up for us and I hope we end up reaping the benefits much like Arsenal have done over the years.

Ryan Flynn goes on loan to Hereford

Ryan Flynn scored some important goals for the youth teams which won 2 FA Youth Cups, but now the 19 year midfielder joins Robbie Threlfall at the League Two side Hereford United for a months loan.
He's never made a first team appearance and given the level of competition for midfield places, realistically never will, hopefully he'll make the most of his loan so another club will come in for him.

Oh purlease ... Madrid should get Real

I think it's a little rich to hear Real Madrid warning their youth players not to leave and join other teams. Fair enough they may be a little incensed lately having lost Gerardo Bruna to us. Their argument is that most young players who leave will just find themselves playing reserve team football etc.
Of course if those same youth players were to stay with Real Madrid, would they really have any better chance of making a breakthrough with all the Galacticos they buy every year ? I think not !
The likes of Arsenal (in particular), Liverpool & Manchester United have much better track records of youngsters breaking in to the first teams, which is why I imagine the youngsters are enticed in to leaving Real/Barca.

Tim Bjorkstrom on trial with Liverpool

While it's unusual for us to be linked with non-latino players, there is the occasional gem which pops up. One such potential player is 16 year old Tim Bjorkstrom who is currently on trial with the Reds.
Probably his biggest advantage is that he doesn't play in midfield or goal (Benitez seems to be stock piling in these positions) which should make any possible breakthrough a little easier, the central defender is quite highly rated after a string of good performances for Swedens under-17 side.
Given that his trial is of indeterminate length we could be waiting a while for any confirmation of his signing.

Is 'Danny G' , the next 'Stevie G' ?

While I thought that premiership level experience would do Danny Guthrie the world of good if he wants any chance of breaking in to the Liverpool first team, it turns out he got European level experience last night against Bayern Munich. He's on a season long loan with Bolton and played the full 90 minutes against Bayern, even setting up the opening goal for Bolton.
True he's a dynamic midfielder with a great engine and even though hailed in some quarters as the next Steven Gerrard, it's hard to imagine him breaking into the LFC first team and I reckon he'll be sold come season end.

Lauri Dalla Valle has signed for Liverpool

And the youth ranks continue to swell, according to Finnish newspaper Karjalainen, Liverpool has signed Lauri Dalla Valle, they also claim he'll receive a signing on fee of between €0.5m & €1m.
While he is widely regarded as one of Finlands hottest ever youth prospects (not that there can be too much competition for that title), I doubt LFC would be willing to pay a signing on fee for a 16 year old attacking midfielder !
Having said that he was on trial with us last summer after failing to settle in Italy with Inter Milan and has been hyped for quite a while now (scores a goal every second game), so it's not like LFC have no idea of what they're getting for the money.

Another Reds starlet is leaving

An agreement is already in place for FA Youth Cup winner Jimmy Ryan to make his loan move with Shrewsbury Town permanent in January. The midfielder was part of our famed youth team from a couple of years back and like the rest of those players he never broke in to the first team.
I'd high hopes that from that crop of players we'd get to see another local youngster make the breakthrough, while Spearing and Lindfield remain part of the squad it looks like the very talented Adam Hammill (on loan with Southampton) is the one with most potential. Now that LFC is 'cash rich' I hope it doesn't mean we'll always look to the transfer market for our next player :-(

Reds Starlet: Paul Anderson in demand

The talented and very pacy young winger has turned in to a goal scoring machine since joining Swansea City on a season long loan, he's hit 6 goals already ! The Swansea Evening Post reports that Swansea City want to make the deal a permanent one, can't really blame them can you.
Hopefully Liverpool FC won't let the 19 year old leave so soon, although he would command a seven figure transfer fee, we would be better off retaining him, maybe loan him out again next season to a Championship/Premiership side (League One is probably too easy for him). The resulting experience could do one of two things, either increase his transfer fee or better yet he may prove good enough to play for the Reds first team :-)

Gerardo Bruna signs for Liverpool

Gerardo Bruna has shunned signing professional forms with Real Madrid and opted to join Liverpool instead (similar fashion to how Cesc Fabregas joined Arsenal). The 16 year old argentinian is half spanish and has an EU passport so he won't require a work permit to join Liverpool.
The exceptionally talented midfielder can both create and score goals, with breathtaking skill, pace and balance. He will probably be one of the few youth players who is capable of making the step up to the first team but it'll be another couple of years before we find out.

The Reds youngsters might shine tonight

Say what you want about the Carling Cup but at least it gives the younger fringe players a chance to prove their worth. Tonight we should get to see several in action, I for one can't wait to see how they perform, there's always been something exciting about watching a new player break through at Anfield, sadly it's not happened under Rafa just yet.
Jack Hobbs has been highly rated from day one and he gets his debut tonight (along with Itandje in goal). Leto, Leiva, Insua and El Zhar are also bound to play at some stage, I've only seen these guys in reserve games so far (and they're impressive), hope they play to their potential tonight :-)