Klopp Nurtured a Bigger Talent Than Trent, But He Left Liverpool for Free

Liverpool’s renowned academy has produced several talented players in recent years who have made their way into the first team. Curtis Jones has become a key player under the current manager, while defenders like Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah have also featured for the senior side.

However, the most notable academy graduate in Liverpool’s first team is Trent Alexander-Arnold. Unfortunately, recent reports suggest he may depart the club at the end of this season.

Alexander-Arnold has achieved remarkable success with Liverpool. In 349 appearances, he has scored 22 goals and provided 87 assists, helping the club win their first Premier League title and the Champions League in 2018/19. He has been one of the most creative players in Premier League history, reaching double-digit assists in three separate seasons.

Despite his importance to the team, Alexander-Arnold appears to be on the verge of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires. This would be a massive loss for Liverpool, who would need to find a way to replace one of their key attacking outlets.

While Alexander-Arnold has become a Liverpool legend, there was another academy prospect who once looked even more promising – Ben Woodburn. Making his Premier League debut a month before Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn became Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer at 17 years and 45 days old.

However, Woodburn’s career took a very different path. He made only 11 appearances for Liverpool’s first team before going on several loan spells. In 2022, he left the club on a free transfer. Now playing for Salford City, Woodburn has found some success but has not lived up to his early potential.

Woodburn’s story serves as a reminder that even the most promising young talents don’t always fulfill their potential at the highest level. While Alexander-Arnold became a Liverpool icon, Woodburn’s career took a different trajectory despite his record-breaking start.