Anfield Watch
·22 November 2024
Anfield Watch
·22 November 2024
While Liverpool made limited signings in the summer, plenty of the club's young talents were sent out on loan.
And while the Reds' youth teams have proved to be a great way to develop players, those earmarked for the future are often sent out to get senior experience before they join Liverpool's first team.
Stefan Bejcetic was part of the Liverpool first-team squad throughout last season but found himself constantly injured, so he is re-sparking his development at Pep Lijnders' RB Salzburg.
Meanwhile, Scottish teenage winger Ben Doak is having a great time on loan at Middlesbrough, while shining for the Scottish national team during the international breaks.
However, for Welsh left-back Owen Beck, things have been less than straightforward during his stay at Blackburn Rovers this season.
Earlier on in the season, Beck was the victim of a biting incident in a hotly fought contest against Preston North End.
He was engaged in a brawl, where the referee sent him off for a straight red card offence, but while making his way off the field, he gestured to the referee that he had a bite mark on his neck - which, on replay, was clear as day inappropriate conduct.
Nonetheless, Beck was given a three-match suspension and his attacker remained on the pitch, before belatedly receiving an eight-match ban for the offence.
The entire situation was a great shame because the Welshman had made a brilliant start to the season for Blackburn and the momentum he was building was subsequently quashed.
However, he soon returned from suspension and was back in good form, until his most recent setback against Shield United before the international break, where he felt some sustained stiff back pain, leading to him missing out on the travelling squad that the Blues and Whites took to Cardiff.
Although he recently made the breakthrough to Craig Bellamy's senior Wales squad, Beck had to spend his international break on the physio table, slowly getting himself back to full fitness.
Blackburn Rovers have now confirmed Beck is back from injury and is set to feature against Portsmouth in Rovers' championship clash this weekend, although the back issues may be a lingering problem as games begin to come thick and fast over the festive period.
© IMAGO
During his time at Liverpool, ex-boss Jurgen Klopp worked closely with the club's young players and in 2022, he called Beck a 'super talent'.
Speaking to LFCTV, reported by the Manchester Evening News, Klopp said: "Owen is a super talent, I'm really excited about him. He's impressed a lot of us with the way he is. He’s still growing, he’s still maturing as a lad, he’s got a lot to learn but the signs are there that he’s going to be a top player.
"He's obviously got Robbo and Kostas ahead of him - hopefully being in and around them, he'll be able to pick up things and learn from them. He got the opportunity and took it."
Anfield Watch exclusively reported earlier this month that Liverpool have entered preliminary talks with left-back Milos Kerkez, given Andy Robertson's ageing profile, however, Arne Slot may also look to bring Beck into the fray when his loan move comes to an end in May.
The youngster has been impressive in the Championship so Slot will likely be keeping a close eye on him, as Klopp did.