Ones to Watch
Keep an eye out for three talented teenagers who could make an impact for Liverpool FC in the near future after impressing during Pre-Season...
Owen Beck comes from Flint in North Wales. He moved to the Liverpool FC Academy at U13 level and after progressing nicely joined Jürgen Klopp's squad for the summer training camp in Austria. The 19-year-old left-back made a good impression. He won the Reds a penalty in a friendly against FC Wacker Innsbruck and when Liverpool FC played 1.FSV Mainz 05 it was his cross that led to an own goal to give LFC a 1-0 win. Owen is also a Welsh youth international and he signed a new long-term contract with the Reds in July 2021.
When Owen first joined Liverpool FC he was an attacking midfielder, but was moved to left-back during an U13s game against Huddersfield Town FC U13s. It worked out well and he has stayed in that position ever since.
Owen is the great nephew of Liverpool FC legend Ian Rush, the greatest ever goalscorer in LFC history. Rush scored 346 goals in 660 games for the Reds including an incredible 25 goals against Everton FC.
Just like Andy Robertson, Owen gets lots of assists from left-back. In one game against Tottenham Hotspur FC U18s last season he got a hat-trick of assists – not many left-backs do that!
Harvey Elliott joined the Reds from Fulham FC in 2019. He was only 16 and became the second youngest player to ever appear for Liverpool FC when he made his debut against Milton Keynes Dons FC in the Carabao Cup. Harvey made eight appearances in season 2019/20 and was a Premier League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup winner. Last year he spent the season on loan at Blackburn Rovers FC, where he scored seven goals. Normally a right-sided winger, Harvey has played in a new attacking midfield role for the First-Team during pre-season. “I don’t mind playing anywhere,” he says. “I’m just excited to put the shirt on every single game.”
Harvey is a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter and called his pet – a French bulldog – 'Paisley' after Bob Paisley, the most successful LFC manager of all time.
He was just three years old when he went on the Kop for the first time. Harvey's dad took him to see the Reds beat Maccabi Haifa FC 2-1 in a UEFA Champions League qualifying game in 2006.
Not many teenagers keep a Premier League winners' medal above their bed, but Harvey does! He also keeps his UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup winners' medals there too and admits, “I always have a look at them before I go to sleep.”
Kaide Gordon was signed from Derby County FC in February 2021. He is an exciting left-footed winger who plays on the right, just like Mo Salah. After scoring six goals in four games for Liverpool FC U18s last season he made his U23s debut and spent pre-season with the First-Team. Despite only being 16, Kaide was very impressive. He had a goal disallowed for offside against 1.FSV Mainz 05 and was unlucky not to score against Hertha BSC when he had a couple of efforts saved. “He's here to become a Liverpool FC first-team player,” says Reds U18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. “He works hard at his game.”
If Kaide plays in a Premier League game for Liverpool FC before his 17th birthday on 5th October he will become only the third 16-year-old to appear in a league game for the Reds. The other two are Jack Robinson (in 2010) and Harvey Elliott (in 2020).
He could also make history if he plays in the UEFA Champions League before he is 18. Never before has a 16 or 17-year-old played a UEFA Champions League game for LFC. Defender Billy Koumetio became Liverpool FC's youngest ever player in the competition last season aged 18.
Kaide's three brothers – Kellan, Keldon and Chase – all play football. Kellan is with Mansfield Town FC, Keldon plays at non-league level and Chase trains with Derby County FC U14s. That's what you call a footballing family!
