Tranmere - 1st preseason friendly
- Thread starter LeTallecWiz
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All the best with that mate
Half of them were yours, right mate?
25 cocky little scousers, courtesy of yours truly.
Read the thread mate!
Hoever also looks very very good.
I know it was a tiny sample, but after his appearance at Wolves I thought he was going to special. Just looks like he has it.
Glad to hear he's bulked up, too, because that would've been my ever so slight reservation against him.
Sweet - Just what I like to hear!
Super stuff from Brewster
Those 3 stood out for me too. Larouci has so much pace and running power; he totally dominated the left flank in the first half. Eager to defend too; seemed to know when to close down an attacker and never lost concentration. Definitely want to see more of him. Brewster obviously had a great outing with 2 well-taken goals and an assist and led the line with confidence. Hoever looked maybe 20% bigger than the last time I saw him play – already an absolute physical unit at 17 and seemed quite comfortable playing as a RB with some nice flicks, crosses and an aggressive run into the box that created the 6th goal for Duncan. Like Brewster or Trent, you could just see this youngster has "it."
Other youngsters who were quietly impressive were Woodburn – like Klopp said it might have been his most assured performance in midfield for Liverpool – and Lewis in the 2nd half. The level of competition in this current Liverpool side is just amazing; it's just been a few days of training for those players and they are already firing on all cylinders, each of them eager to take his chance.
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This was fun. Remember last season when Mourinho spent the pressconferences complaining about how he was forced to do preseason with a bunch of kids who would never play for the regardless...
[article]The Liverpool U18s are flying high under Barry Lewtas this season, and the coach has revealed the player he considers a “little success story” of the campaign.
After the weekend’s 1-1 draw with Man United, the young Reds sit second in the U18 Premier League‘s North Division, level on points with leaders Everton with a game in hand.
On Wednesday night they take on Wigan in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup, while they await the draw for the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League on February 22, having topped Group C with 13 points.
Having taken up the role following Steven Gerrard’s departure to Rangers in the summer, Lewtas deserves significant credit for his work at Kirkby.
Beyond the likes of Paul Glatzel, Bobby Duncan and goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, one of the key players within the U18s setup this season has been converted left-back Yasser Larouci.
The Algerian has made 12 starts for the U18s so far this season, with only Jaros, Duncan, Glatzel, Leighton Clarkson, Jake Cain, Luis Longstaff and Rhys Williams starting more, and he has done so in a largely unfamiliar role.
And Lewtas, speaking to Goal‘s Neil Jones in an excellent overview of his squad this season, described his transition from winger to left-back as “a little success story.”
“This is his second season, he came from Le Havre last year and he’s settled in well,” Lewtas explained of the 18-year-old.
“His grasp of the language has improved hugely, he’s worked hard at it, and you can see he’s more confident as a result.
“He was a wide player when he came, but this year we’ve just wanted to have a look at him at left-back, because we think he has the attributes.
“He’s got great athleticism, he runs into space well, he carries the ball and he gives us great width.
“He was a bit sceptical at the time, but as time has gone on I think you can see he’s enjoying it.
“We look at him as a little success story this season.”
Lewtas’ interview with Jones provides an excellent insight into the next generation of players breaking through at Liverpool, with the coach offering big praise for Jaros in particular.
He describes his No. 1 as an “unsung hero,” who “plays a big part in the style we play with,” which no doubt endears him to Jurgen Klopp, who called him up to first-team training in January.
Interestingly, Lewtas also reveals that popular young midfielder Edvard Tagseth has been sidelined for “pretty much a year through various issues,” revealing why the Norwegian had made just seven outings so far this campaign.
Tagseth shared the captain’s armband with Glatzel during pre-season, and hopefully he can get back on track when he returns to fitness.
For Larouci, 2018 was a very productive year, and with Lewtas, Alex Inglethorpe and Neil Critchley‘s guidance, he can hope to add to his tally of six appearances for the U23s for the campaign in 2019.
[/article]
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Jaysus, Hoever looks like a don going forward. Brewster has an impish sense of entitlement to score goals that I love. Where the fuck did Larouci come from? Seems to have some amazing attributes. Exciting times.
Yep I really like Woodburn too. He needs to be groomed as a midfielder because he's never had the pace to play up top.
But technically he's fantastic and finishes very well. There's definitely a top player in there somewhere.
Yasser Larouci
Age: 18
Born: El Oued, Algeria
Position: Left-back
Signed from: Le Havre
Larouci agreed a deal to join Liverpool at the beginning of 2017, having turned down an offer to stay with Le Havre and courted interest from both Southampton and Man United.
It took time for the teenager to receive international clearance, but this came in the opening months of last season, where he joined up with the U18s—then coached by Steven Gerrard.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez and Dimitri Payet in breaking through from Le Havre’s academy, there were high hopes for Larouci upon his move to Merseyside. His initial outings came in friendlies, first in pre-season and then against Burnley at Kirkby, before his maiden competitive outing off the bench in a 6-0 thrashing of West Ham, and his first start in a 3-2 win over Sunderland a month later.
While this wait to get into action could have been tough for a young player new to the club, and in a new country, as Larouci told LFCTV in December this wasn’t the case for him. “When I signed for Le Havre I was 10, and I had to move in with house parents,” he explained. “When it’s for football, it’s my dream to be a professional, so I was very happy. I wasn’t worried about leaving my family.”
Larouci made 18 appearances for the young Reds in his first season, 12 as a starter and six from the bench, and though these largely came as a winger, Gerrard’s successor Lewtas earmarked him for a new long-term role.
“This year we’ve just wanted to have a look at him at left-back, because we think he has the attributes,” Lewtas told Goal‘s Neil Jones in February. “He’s got great athleticism, he runs into space well, he carries the ball and he gives us great width.”
The attributes Lewtas highlights have certainly translated well to Larouci’s deeper position on the pitch, as in the system encouraged across the ranks at Liverpool there is a big emphasis on the full-backs. Able to still provide his lung-bursting runs and end product from either the byline or cutting inside, he now pairs this with an improving defensive nous.
The Algerian has been one of the constants of the U18s’ lineup this season, with only Vitezslav Jaros (19), Rhys Williams (20), Paul Glatzel (20), Bobby Duncan (22) and Leighton Clarkson (22) making more starts than Larouci (17). His flexibility has also seen him feature more regularly for the U23s since his debut against Burnley in November—a game that saw Neil Critchley shift Lewis into midfield as Larouci assumed his position at left-back.
So far, the 18-year-old has made seven appearances for the U23s including six starts, and has made his mark with a hand in goals against Man City and Burnley—though none more so than against Hertha Berlin in December. Picking up the ball from Lazar Markovic with the score at 1-1, Larouci surged into the box and found the top corner with a fantastic outside-of-the-boot strike, proving he can still utilise his attacking prowess from left-back.
“He was a bit sceptical at the time, but as time has gone on I think you can see he’s enjoying it,” Lewtas reflected in conversation with Jones. “We look at him as a little success story this season.” Larouci revealed similar as he discussed his transition from attack-minded winger to a more well-rounded player, and pointed towards his boundless energy as a key factor behind this success. “It was a bit hard when I started to play at full-back, because I had to learn how to defend,” he said. “Normally I don’t like to defend, I prefer just to attack, but I think it’s good. He thinks I’ve got the quality to play full-back because I can just run and run, to attack and defend.”
Lewtas’ description of Larouci as a “success story” underlines his belief in the youngster, who himself labelled the coach as someone he is “very close with,” and he is even taking English and Spanish lessons from Lewtas’ wife, Amy. This investment in Larouci on both a personal and professional level is a clear sign that he could factor in the club’s long-term plans. While the summer may come too soon for his step up to senior duty, and Lewis remains the favourite to take over from Moreno, it is certainly encouraging that he has managed to make the step up so convincingly.
Rafa Camacho on the opposite flank serves as a key role model for Larouci, having himself made the switch from winger to full-back, and this conversion seems perfectly suited to Klopp’s system. Larouci believes his versatility can boost his chances of a breakthrough in the near future, showcasing a valuable selflessness as he sets his sights on a first-team role.
“I think I can get my chance to play in the first team at left-back, and if it’s not left-back I can still play as a winger. I think it’s good if you can play two positions,” he said. “If I’m with the first team, left-back, right wing, left wing…it’s the same.” This will no doubt endear the swiftly blossoming Larouci to Klopp and his backroom staff, and while it may take a little longer for him to catch the eye, it could be that he joins the squad at Melwood soon. After that it is a case of continuing to impress for the U18s and U23s, as well as in training, and taking any opportunity that comes his way.
Age: 18
Born: El Oued, Algeria
Position: Left-back
Signed from: Le Havre
Larouci agreed a deal to join Liverpool at the beginning of 2017, having turned down an offer to stay with Le Havre and courted interest from both Southampton and Man United.
It took time for the teenager to receive international clearance, but this came in the opening months of last season, where he joined up with the U18s—then coached by Steven Gerrard.
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez and Dimitri Payet in breaking through from Le Havre’s academy, there were high hopes for Larouci upon his move to Merseyside. His initial outings came in friendlies, first in pre-season and then against Burnley at Kirkby, before his maiden competitive outing off the bench in a 6-0 thrashing of West Ham, and his first start in a 3-2 win over Sunderland a month later.
While this wait to get into action could have been tough for a young player new to the club, and in a new country, as Larouci told LFCTV in December this wasn’t the case for him. “When I signed for Le Havre I was 10, and I had to move in with house parents,” he explained. “When it’s for football, it’s my dream to be a professional, so I was very happy. I wasn’t worried about leaving my family.”
Larouci made 18 appearances for the young Reds in his first season, 12 as a starter and six from the bench, and though these largely came as a winger, Gerrard’s successor Lewtas earmarked him for a new long-term role.
“This year we’ve just wanted to have a look at him at left-back, because we think he has the attributes,” Lewtas told Goal‘s Neil Jones in February. “He’s got great athleticism, he runs into space well, he carries the ball and he gives us great width.”
The attributes Lewtas highlights have certainly translated well to Larouci’s deeper position on the pitch, as in the system encouraged across the ranks at Liverpool there is a big emphasis on the full-backs. Able to still provide his lung-bursting runs and end product from either the byline or cutting inside, he now pairs this with an improving defensive nous.
The Algerian has been one of the constants of the U18s’ lineup this season, with only Vitezslav Jaros (19), Rhys Williams (20), Paul Glatzel (20), Bobby Duncan (22) and Leighton Clarkson (22) making more starts than Larouci (17). His flexibility has also seen him feature more regularly for the U23s since his debut against Burnley in November—a game that saw Neil Critchley shift Lewis into midfield as Larouci assumed his position at left-back.
So far, the 18-year-old has made seven appearances for the U23s including six starts, and has made his mark with a hand in goals against Man City and Burnley—though none more so than against Hertha Berlin in December. Picking up the ball from Lazar Markovic with the score at 1-1, Larouci surged into the box and found the top corner with a fantastic outside-of-the-boot strike, proving he can still utilise his attacking prowess from left-back.
“He was a bit sceptical at the time, but as time has gone on I think you can see he’s enjoying it,” Lewtas reflected in conversation with Jones. “We look at him as a little success story this season.” Larouci revealed similar as he discussed his transition from attack-minded winger to a more well-rounded player, and pointed towards his boundless energy as a key factor behind this success. “It was a bit hard when I started to play at full-back, because I had to learn how to defend,” he said. “Normally I don’t like to defend, I prefer just to attack, but I think it’s good. He thinks I’ve got the quality to play full-back because I can just run and run, to attack and defend.”
Lewtas’ description of Larouci as a “success story” underlines his belief in the youngster, who himself labelled the coach as someone he is “very close with,” and he is even taking English and Spanish lessons from Lewtas’ wife, Amy. This investment in Larouci on both a personal and professional level is a clear sign that he could factor in the club’s long-term plans. While the summer may come too soon for his step up to senior duty, and Lewis remains the favourite to take over from Moreno, it is certainly encouraging that he has managed to make the step up so convincingly.
Rafa Camacho on the opposite flank serves as a key role model for Larouci, having himself made the switch from winger to full-back, and this conversion seems perfectly suited to Klopp’s system. Larouci believes his versatility can boost his chances of a breakthrough in the near future, showcasing a valuable selflessness as he sets his sights on a first-team role.
“I think I can get my chance to play in the first team at left-back, and if it’s not left-back I can still play as a winger. I think it’s good if you can play two positions,” he said. “If I’m with the first team, left-back, right wing, left wing…it’s the same.” This will no doubt endear the swiftly blossoming Larouci to Klopp and his backroom staff, and while it may take a little longer for him to catch the eye, it could be that he joins the squad at Melwood soon. After that it is a case of continuing to impress for the U18s and U23s, as well as in training, and taking any opportunity that comes his way.
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Matip just cant stop assisting Divock
is rurik shagging melissa reddy ???
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