Liverpool is a club known for developing and nurturing young players at the AXA training centre, and while we have seen a lot of players come through the academy and achieve silverware and a name in world football, some of those made their mark at Anfield while others found their true calling away from L4 and received cult hero status elsewhere, and we often overlook these players when speaking about the Reds academy success.
Let’s take a jog down memory lane and take a look at five forgotten Liverpool academy graduates who have gone on to make significant impacts beyond Anfield Stadium (and in a way proving that the journey of a footballer can take many unexpected turns).
Raheem Sterling
To start with, Raheem Sterling. He is not one of those cult heroes but surely someone you cannot forget when speaking about academy player successes. He is possibly the most successful player out of the academy in the recent past.
Sterling came through the academy at Merseyside, and he went on to become a key player at L4 before a surprise move to Manchester City in 2015. And when donning the City badge, Raheem went on to develop into one of the Premier League’s (and England’s) most dynamic wingers, and he went on to win multiple Premier League titles at Etihad Stadium and become a fan favourite in the process there.
Right now at Arsenal, still playing for one of the most elite in the English top tier, he came from the academy at Kirkby to become a Premier League icon.
Conor Coady
Now, with Conor Coady, the centre-back spent his early years developing at Liverpool’s academy; however, he struggled to break into the first team at Anfield Stadium, and he went on to have decent spells at Huddersfield and Wolves.
He became a cult hero at Wolverhampton Wanderers, going on to captain the side, showcasing his leadership and defensive prowess that made him a highly loved figure at Molineux.
Jack Harrison
Many wouldn’t know that Jack Harrison came through Liverpool’s academy; however, he later moved to the United States to take further strides in his career. And after impressing in MLS, he came back to England and became one of the key players for Leeds United, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League. He showcased his flair and work rate that made him a fan favourite at Elland Road.
Anthony Gordon
Another one of the players that has been riding the waves in the English top tier at the moment. He played for Liverpool’s academy before eventually swapping to the other side of Merseyside, where he received more first-team opportunities and ended up truly flourishing his potential at Goodison. He became a key player for the Toffees before moving to Newcastle United, where he is earning praise for his grinding energy.
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Harry Wilson
Lastly, Harry Wilson, he was one of the most highly rated players on this list and in the academy at Kirkby when he was coming up the ranks. However, he soon found it difficult to break in at Anfield Stadium, and following loan spells at Derby County, Bournemouth, and Cardiff City, he has now established himself at Fulham.
He has showcased his technical ability and that slick left foot that has produced some impeccable goals.
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